Niranjan Karak – författare

Since 1930 more than 100,000 new chemical compounds have been developed and insufficient information exists on the health assessment of 95 percent of these chemicals in which a relevant percentage are used in construction products. For instance Portland cement concrete, the most used material on the Planet (10.000 million tons/year that in the next 40 years will increase around 100 %) currently used in around 15% of total concrete production contains chemicals used to modify their properties, either in the fresh or hardened state.

Biopolymers are materials that are developed from natural resources. They reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. There is a worldwide demand to replace petroleum-based materials with renewable resources.

Currently bio-admixtures represent just a small fraction of the chemical admixtures market (around 20%) but with environmental awareness for constituents in construction materials generally growing (the Construction Products Regulation is being enforced in Europe since 2013), the trend towards bio-admixtures is expected to continue.

This book provides an updated state-of-the-art review on biopolymers and their influence and use as admixtures in the development of eco-efficient construction materials.

Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites: Raw Materials to Applications brings together the most recent research in nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposites for a range of applications. The book's coverage is comprehensive, starting with synthesis techniques, then moving to characterization and applications of several different classes of nanomaterial and nanoparticle in nanocomposites. By presenting different nanomaterials, such as metal and metal oxides, clay and POSS, carbon nanotubes, cellulose and bio-based polymers in a structured manner, the book enables an efficient comparison of properties and capabilities for these advanced materials, making it relevant both for researchers in an academic environment and also industrial R&D.

This book is particularly distinctive because it centers on the raw materials on which the nanocomposites are based, the biological properties of the range of materials discussed, and the environmental and economic considerations of different polymer systems.

Dynamics of Advanced Sustainable Nanomaterials and Their Related Nanocomposites at the Bio-Nano Interface highlights the most recent research findings (conducted over the last 5-6 years) on the dynamics of nanomaterials, including their multifaceted, advanced applications as sustainable materials. In addition, special attributes of these materials are discussed from a mechanistic and application point-of-view, including their sustainability and interfacial interactions at the bio-nano interface and different applications. This book presents an important reference resource on advanced sustainable nanomaterials for chemical, nano-, and materials technologists who are looking to learn more about advanced nanocomposites with sustainable attributes.

Finally, the book examines the emerging market for sustainable materials and their advanced applications, with a particular focus on the bio-nano interface and their future outlook.

Polyurethane nanocomposites present an attractive and sustainable way for designing smart materials that can be used in packaging, health and energy applications.

Biobased Smart Polyurethane Nanocomposites brings together the most recent research in the field from the basic concepts through to their applications. Special emphasis is given to sustainable biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposites with hyperbranched architecture. The book introduces biobased polyurethanes and the nanomaterials that can be used as nanocomposites followed by the resulting polyurethane nanocomposites. The second part then explores important applications in paints and surface coatings, shape memory, self-healing, self-cleaning, biomaterials and packaging materials.

Written by a leading expert on polyurethane nanocomposites, the book is a great introduction to this smart material and its applications.