Renewable Polymers and Polymer-Metal Oxide Composites

Book excerpt: Renewable Polymers and Polymer-Metal Oxide Composites: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications serves as a reference on the key concepts of the advances of polymer-oxide composites. The book reviews knowledge on polymer-composite theory, properties, structure, synthesis, and their characterization and applications. There is an emphasis on coupling metal oxides with polymers from renewable sources. Also, the latest advances in the relationship between the microstructure of the composites and the resulting improvement of the material's properties and performance are covered. The applications addressed include desalination, tissue engineering, energy storage, hybrid energy systems, food, and agriculture. This book is suitable for early-career researchers in academia and R&D in industry who are working in the disciplines of materials science, engineering, chemistry and physics. - Provides basic principles, theory and synthetic methods of composite materials, polymer composites and metal oxides - Reviews the latest advances in polymer-oxide-based applications in medicine, water treatment, energy and sensing - Discusses materials from renewable resources, including lifecycle assessment, economic aspects and potential application in tissue engineering, photovoltaics and food packaging