Surface Modification of Nanoparticle and Natural Fiber Fillers Polymer Nano–, Micro– and Macrocomposites Series

A review of the various methodologies for the surface treatment of different types of inorganic spherical and fibrous fillers, describing ball milling, cationic polymerization, vapor phase grafting, plasma treatment and UV irradiation in detail. In addition, the book connects the resulting composite properties to the modified filler surface properties, thus allowing for a purposeful, application–oriented composite design.

1. Surface Treatment of Particles and Fibers: An Overview 2. Synthesis of Nanosilica Fillers by Sol–Gel Process and Surface Modifications 3. Surface Treatment of Calcite by Wet–Stirred Ball Milling 4. Modification of Dispersed Silica Nanoparticles by a Cationic Surfactant 5. Modification of Porous Calcium Phosphate Surfaces with Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles 6. Silica Surface Modification by Cationic Polymerization 7. Surface Treatment of Coir Fibers Using Lignins and Furfuryl Alcohol 8. Plasma Treatment Time Induced Vapor Phase Grafting 9. Studies on Surface Modification of UHMWPE Fibers via UV Initiated Grafting 10. Chitosan Grafting of Silk Fibers 11. Modification of Hollow Fibers by UV Surface Grafting

Vikas Mittal is an Assistant Professor at the Chemical Engineering Department of The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi. He obtained his PhD in 2006 in Polymer and Materials Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. Later, he worked as Materials Scientist in the Active and Intelligent Coatings section of SunChemical in London, UK and as Polymer Engineer at BASF Polymer Research in Ludwigshafen, Germany. His research interests include polymer nanocomposites, novel filler surface modifications, thermal stability enhancements, polymer latexes with functionalized surfaces etc. He has authored over 40 scientific publications, book chapters and patents on these subjects.