Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites and Nanostructured Materials

Call for Papers

The overall aim of this special issue is to bring fundamental and applied science and engineering to polymer matrix nanocomposites and nanostructured materials. While different nanostructured materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, layered silicates, and oxides, have been gaining importance in commercial applications, the full potential of many nanoscale fillers has yet to be reached. Although several studies have shown the successful application of some nanofillers on a lab scale, in some cases the transfer to industrial applications remains complex and is often hampered due to processing difficulties and a lack of fundamental knowledge about filler-filler and polymer-filler interactions as well as their effects on a variety of macroscopic properties.

We welcome high-quality articles that encompass different aspects of nanostructured materials and their use as fillers in polymer matrix composites. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Recent advances in the characterization of nanofiller-polymer interfaces
• Influence of block copolymers and surfactants on the dispersion of nanotubes and graphenes in polymeric matrices, specially thermosets
• Synthesis, processing, and functionalization of nanostructured materials
• ATRP, RAFT, and other controlled polymerization for the development of polymer nanocomposites with tailored properties
• Cooperative polymer chain rearrangement in nanocomposites and their relation to macroscopic properties
• Role of nanofillers addition on polymer crystallinity
• Tribology of polymer matrix nanocomposites
• Toughening, mechanical reinforcement, and ageing of polymer matrix nanocomposites
• Nanomechanical properties of nanocomposites and nanostructured materials (nanoidentation): modelling and experimental results
• Dielectric behavior’s far and near interfaces of nanoparticles and polymers
• Modelling and simulation applied to polymer matrix nanocomposites and nanostructured materials
• Metal/polymer nanocomposites

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Luiz Antonio Ferreira Coelho, Center for Technological Sciences, State University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC, Brazil

Guest Editors

• Sergio Henrique Pezzin, Center for Technological Sciences, State University of Santa Catarina, Joinville, SC, Brazil
• Marcio Rodrigo Loos, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
• Luis Antonio Sanchez de Almeida Prado, Institut für Kunststoffe und Verbundwerkstoffe, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg, Hamburg, Germany
• Alejandro Manzano Ramirez, Materials Science & Technology, CINVESTAV-Querétaro, Libramiento Norponiente 2000, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico