Klaus Friedrich & Stoyko Fakirov 
Polymer Composites 
From Nano- to Macro-Scale

The use of polymer composites in various engineering applications has become state of the art. This multi-author volume provides a useful summary of updated knowledge on polymer composites in general, practically integrating experimental studies, theoretical analyses and computational modeling at different scales, i. e. , from nano- to macroscale. Detailed consideration is given to four major areas: structure and properties of polymer nanocomposites, characterization and modeling, processing and application of macrocomposites, and mechanical performance of macrocomposites. The idea to organize this volume arose from a very impressive workshop – The First International Workshop on Polymers and Composites at IVW Kaiserslautern: Invited Humboldt-Fellows and Distinguished Scientists, which was held on May 22-24, 2003 at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. The contributing authors were invited to incorporate updated knowledge and developments into their individual chapters within a year after the workshop, which finally led to these excellent contributions. The success of this workshop was mainly sponsored by the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through a Sofia Kovalevskaja Award Program, financed by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research within the ‘Investment in the Future Program’ of the German Government. In 2001, the Humboldt Foundation launched this new award program in order to offer outstanding young researchers throughout the world an opportunity to establish their own work-groups and to develop innovative research concepts virtually in Germany. One of the editors, Z.

Table of Content

Nanocomposites: Structure and Properties.- Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Polymers: a State of the Art Review.- Application of Non-Layered Nanoparticles in Polymer Modification.- Reinforcement of Thermosetting Polymers by the Incorporation of Micro- and Nanoparticles.- Polyimides Reinforced by a Sol-Gel Derived Organosilicon Nanophase: Synthesis and Structure-Property Relationships.- Layered Silicate/Rubber Nanocomposites via Latex and Solution Intercalations.- Property Improvements of an Epoxy Resin by Nanosilica Particle Reinforcement.- Special Characterization Methods and Modeling.- Micro-Scratch Testing and Finite Element Simulation of Wear Mechanisms of Polymer Composites.- Determination of the Interface Strength of Polymer-Polymer Joints by a Curved Interface Tensile Test.- Manufacturing and Characterization of Microfibrillar Reinforced Composites from Polymer Blends.- Tribological Characteristics of Micro- and Nanoparticle Filled Polymer Composites.- Macrocomposites: Processing and Application.- Production of Thermoplastic Towpregs and Towpreg-Based Composites.- Manufacturing of Tailored Reinforcement for Liquid Composite Molding Processes.- Deconsolidation and Reconsolidation of Thermoplastic Composites During Processing.- Long Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites in Automotive Applications.- Mechanical Performance of Macrocomposites.- Deformation Mechanisms in Knitted Fabric Composites.- Impact Damage in Composite Laminates.- Discontinuous Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid Composites.- Accelerated Testing Methodology for Polymer Composite Durability.