About Book

The developments in polymer science has been gaining attention and endured important changes throughout the last ten to fifteen years. From rather specialized subject intended for engineers interested in certain definite fields, it has developed into one of the fundamental disciplines common to several branches of engineering and science. Conducting polymers are an important class of organic materials with electric conductivity and have experienced a rapid development. Intrinsically conducting polymers, also known as “synthetic metals,” are polymers with a highly conjugated polymeric chain. They have been studied extensively due to their intriguing electronic and redox properties, along with the resulting numerous potential applications in many fields since their discovery in 1970s. Conducting polymers (CPs) such as polypyrrole, polythiophene and polyanilines are complex dynamic structures that captivate the imagination of those involved in intelligent materials research. This book focuses on mechanism of conducting and mechanism of charge transport of conducting polymers. It contains the contributions of several authors in the area of polymer physics by application of conducting polymers. This book explores all the important aspects of control theory in the present-day scenario. It provides thorough insights into this field and explains in detail the uses and methods of the subject. It deals with green polymers, permeation in polymers, nanocomposites, fibre-reinforced polymers, metal oxide nanomaterials, soft lithography technique and ion exchange. The book studies, analyses and uphold the pillars of this field and its utmost significance in modern times. It picks up individual branches and explains their need and contribution in the context of the growth of this subject and technology. For all those who are interested in polymer science, this book can prove to be an essential guide.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Introductory Chapter: Recycling and Reuse of End-of-Life Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers.......................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................1

2. Recycling approaches for waste CFRPs............................................3

3. Concluding remarks.............................................................................7

Chapter 2 Introduction of Fibre-Reinforced Polymers − Polymers and Composites: Concepts, Properties and Processes..............................10

1. Introduction..........................................................................................10

2. Manufactured process and basic concepts.....................................13

3. All process description.......................................................................35

4. Mechanical properties measurements.............................................45

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................52

Acknowledgement...............................................................................53

Chapter 3 Ion Exchange in Geopolymers..............................................................56

1. Introduction..................................................................................................56

2. Synthesis of geopolymers..................................................................57

3. Geopolymer structure.........................................................................58

4. Background of ion exchange............................................................59

5. Procedure of ion exchange in geopolymers..................................60

6. Test performed over geopolymers...................................................61

7. Effect of ion exchange over geopolymers......................................61

8. Conclusions..........................................................................................66

Chapter 4 Micro/Nano Patterning on Polymers Using Soft Lithography

Technique....................................................................................................70

Abstract.................................................................................................70

1. Introduction..........................................................................................70

2. Various methods of soft lithography..............................................72

3. Challenges............................................................................................82

Acknowledgements.............................................................................82

Chapter 5 Identification of Some New Generation Additives for Polymers

Obtained in the Catalytic Hydrogenation Process...........................85

Abstract.................................................................................................85

1. Introduction..........................................................................................86

2. Plasticizers............................................................................................86

3. Cross-linking agents...........................................................................96

4. Conclusions........................................................................................102

Acknowledgements...........................................................................103

Chapter 6 Metal Oxide Nanomaterials, Conducting Polymers and Their

Nanocomposites for Solar Energy......................................................106

1. Introduction........................................................................................106

2. Types of conducting polymers.......................................................108

3. Nanocomposites of conducting polymers....................................111

4. Basic structure and kinetics of DSSCs..........................................117

5. DSSCs based on conducting polymers.........................................118

6. DSSCs based on metal oxide semiconductors............................126

7. Doping of ZnO for improved electrical and photovoltaic

properties............................................................................................142

8. Metal oxides as nanofillers in polymer electrolytes..................152

9. Conclusions........................................................................................160

Chapter 7 Microwave Absorption and EMI Shielding Behavior of

Nanocomposites Based on Intrinsically Conducting Polymers,

Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes......................................................174

1. Introduction ......................................................................................174

2. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shielding ...........................175

3. Shielding definitions and phenomenon ......................................175

4. Conclusions .......................................................................................217

Chapter 8 Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Permeation in Polymers.....225

1. Introduction ......................................................................................225

2. Sorption of gases in polymers ......................................................227

3. Calculation of excess chemical potentials .................................230

4. Phase equilibrium calculation ....................................................235

5. Applications ......................................................................................237

6. Diffusion in polymers .....................................................................240

7. Permeation in polymers .................................................................245

8. Summary ...........................................................................................248

Chapter 9 Making Green Polymers Even Greener: Towards Sustainable

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Agroindustrial By-

Products.....................................................................................................253

1. Introduction ......................................................................................253

2. Towards an enhanced sustainable production ..........................256

3. Applications ......................................................................................269

4. Future research ................................................................................269

5. Acknowledgments ...........................................................................271

Citation......................................................................................................285

Index...........................................................................................................287

About Author

Hans Moritz received his Ph.D. in Polymer Science from Public Science University, Freiburg. He serves as a Research Associate at Technical Institute, Lyon. His research has mainly concentrated on the conducting polymers, their solution properties, composites and nanocomposites. He has written numerous articles and research papers on biochemistry, bio molecules and polymer chemistry. Moritz is an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where he continues to share his expertise and knowledge in the field of control systems engineering.