Stimuli-responsive polymer systems can be defined as functional materials that show physical or chemical property changes in response to external stimuli such as temperature, radiation, chemical agents, pH, mechanical stress, and electric and magnetic fields. Recent developments in manufacturing techniques have facilitated the production of a wide range of stimuli-responsive polymer systems, such as micro- and nanoscale structures, with potential applications in soft sensors and actuators, smart textiles, soft robots, and artificial muscles. This book brings together the recent progress in manufacturing techniques, with particular emphasis on 3D and 4D printing and applications of stimuli-responsive polymer systems in biomedicine and soft robotics.

Stimuli-responsive polymer systems can be defined as functional materials that show physical or chemical property changes in response to external stimuli such as temperature, radiation, chemical agents, pH, mechanical stress, and electric and magnetic fields. Recent developments in manufacturing techniques have facilitated the production of a wide range of stimuli-responsive polymer systems, such as micro- and nanoscale structures, with potential applications in soft sensors and actuators, smart textiles, soft robots, and artificial muscles. This book brings together the recent progress in manufacturing techniques, with particular emphasis on 3D and 4D printing and applications of stimuli-responsive polymer systems in biomedicine and soft robotics.

Nanotechnology-Based Additive Manufacturing State-of-the-art overview of additive manufacturing techniques with an emphasis on processes, product designs and applications This book offers a thorough overview of additive manufacturing technologies, including manufacturing requirements, product design, optimization of processes and product parameters to reduce manufacturing costs. It provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art review on various additive manufacturing technologies, their advantages, shortcomings, potential applications and future directions. Sample topics discussed by the three well-qualified editors on the topic of additive manufacturing include: Areas of application in the fields of electronics, aerospace, construction, automobile, sports and biomedicine Material considerations, the requirement of specific design, fabrication and processing methods Advantages and disadvantages of various 3D printing techniques for the respectively intended applications This book is an immensely valuable resource for researchers working in the field of additive manufacturing or 3D printing, or for developers dealing with the processing and manufacturing of materials and products for advanced technologies.

Any time objects and their (self-)organization are to be put into use, their models and methods of thinking as well as their designing and manufacturing need to be reinvented. 4D printing is a future technology that is capable of bringing 3D objects to life. This ability, which gives objects the power to change shape or properties over time through energy stimulation from active materials and additive manufacturing, makes it possible to envisage technological breakthroughs while challenging the relationship between people and objects. 4D Printing 1 presents the different facets of this technology, providing an objective, critical and even disruptive viewpoint to enable its existence and development, and to stimulate the creative drive that industry, society and humanity need in the perpetual quest for evolution and transformation.

Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Applications: Volume Two: Advanced Nanocarriers for Therapeutics discusses, in detail, the recent trends in designing dual and multi-responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery. Chapters cover dual-responsive polymeric nanocarriers for drug delivery and their different stimuli, multi-responsive polymeric nanocarriers, and the therapeutic applications of stimuli-responsive polymers. With an emphasis on advanced medical applications and synergistic operational and technological methodologies for the improvement of polymers systems for the production of stimuli-responsive polymers, this book is essential reading for materials scientists and researchers working in the drug delivery and pharmaceutical industries. As innovation and development in the area of stimuli responsive polymer-based nanomaterials for drug delivery is moving fast and there is an increased global demand for biodegradable and biocompatible responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery, users will find this to be a timely resource. - Focusses on the most advanced technologies, recent evaluation methods, technical aspects, and advanced synthesis techniques stimuli-responsive polymers - Examines advanced medical applications of stimuli responsive polymers - Analyzes synergistic operational and technological methodologies for the improvement of polymer systems for the production of stimuli-responsive polymers in drug delivery

3D and 4D Printing of Polymer Nanocomposite Materials: Processing, Applications, and Challenges covers advanced 3D and 4D printing processes and the latest developments in novel polymer-based printing materials, thus enabling the reader to understand and benefit from the advantages of this groundbreaking technology. The book presents processes, materials selection, and printability issues, along with sections on the preparation of polymer composite materials for 3D and 4D printing. Across the book, advanced printing techniques are covered and discussed thoroughly, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), inkjet 3D printing (3DP), stereolithography (SLA), and 3D plotting. Finally, major applications areas are discussed, including electronic, aerospace, construction and biomedical applications, with detailed information on the design, fabrication and processing methods required in each case. Provides a thorough, clear understanding of polymer preparation techniques and 3D and 4D printing processes, with a view to specific applications Examines synthesis, formation methodology, the dispersion of fillers, characterization, properties, and performance of polymer nanocomposites Explores the possibilities of 4D printing, covering the usage of stimuli responsive hydrogels and shape memory polymers

Undoubtedly the applications of polymers are rapidly evolving. Technology is continually changing and quickly advancing as polymers are needed to solve a variety of day-to-day challenges leading to improvements in quality of life. The Encyclopedia of Polymer Applications presents state-of-the-art research and development on the applications of polymers. This groundbreaking work provides important overviews to help stimulate further advancements in all areas of polymers. This comprehensive multi-volume reference includes articles contributed from a diverse and global team of renowned researchers. It offers a broad-based perspective on a multitude of topics in a variety of applications, as well as detailed research information, figures, tables, illustrations, and references. The encyclopedia provides introductions, classifications, properties, selection, types, technologies, shelf-life, recycling, testing and applications for each of the entries where applicable. It features critical content for both novices and experts including, engineers, scientists (polymer scientists, materials scientists, biomedical engineers, macromolecular chemists), researchers, and students, as well as interested readers in academia, industry, and research institutions.

This book focuses on the advances of additive manufacturing in the applications of wearable electronics, energy storage, biomedical implants and devices, drug delivery, and technologies for 4D printing, large-scale printing, and ceramics printing. It provides timely insights into the materials, functionalities, and applications of additive manufacturing.

Green Sustainable Process for Chemical and Environmental Engineering and Science: Switchable Solvents explores the preparation, properties, chemical processes and applications of this class of green solvents. The book provides an in-depth overview on the area of switchable solvents in various industrial applications, focusing on the purification and extraction of chemical compounds utilizing green chemistry protocols that include liquid-liquid, solid-liquid, liquid-gas and lipids separation technologies. In addition, it includes recent advances in greener extraction and separation processes. This book will be an invaluable guide to students, professors, scientists and R&D industrial specialists working in the field of sustainable chemistry, organic, analytical, chemical engineering, environmental and pharmaceutical sciences. - Provides a broad overview of switchable solvents in sustainable chemical processes - Compares the use of switchable solvents as greener solvents over conventional solvents - Outlines eco-friendly organic synthesis and chemical processes using switchable solvents - Lists various industrial separations/extraction processes using switchable solvents

An authoritative resource that offers an understanding of the chemistry, properties and applications of temperature-responsive polymers With contributions from a distinguished panel of experts, Temperature-Responsive Polymers puts the focus on hydrophilic polymers capable of changing their physicochemical properties in response to changes in environmental temperature. The contributors review the chemistry of these systems, and discuss a variety of synthetic approaches for preparation of temperature-responsive polymers, physicochemical methods of their characterisation and potential applications in biomedical areas. The text reviews a wide-variety of topics including: The characterisation of temperature-responsive polymers; Infrared and Raman spectroscopy; Applications of temperature-responsive polymers grafted onto solid core nanoparticles; and much more. The contributors also explore how temperature-responsive polymers can be used in the biomedical field for applications such as tissue engineering. This important resource: Offers an important synthesis of the current research on temperature-responsive polymers Covers the chemistry, the synthetic approaches for presentation and the physiochemical method of temperature-responsive polymers Includes a review of the fundamental characteristics of temperature-responsive polymers Explores many of the potential applications in biomedical science, including drug delivery and gene therapy Written for polymer scientists in both academia and industry as well as postgraduate students working in the area of stimuli-responsive materials, this vital text offers an exploration of the chemistry, properties and current applications of temperature-responsive polymers.