Self-Healing Polymers and Polymer Composites

This book covers the fundamentals, theory, design, fabrication, characterization, and application of self-healing polymers and polymer composites. Innovative routes that correlate materials chemistry to the self-healing functionality are summarized for future industrial use. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize integration of existing techniques and / or novel synthetic approaches for target-oriented materials design and fabrication. With this book, experienced readers will gain a comprehensive view of the emerging field, while new researchers will understand the framework for creating new materials or new applications.

Ming Qiu Zhang has over twenty-eight years of systematic experience in polymers, polymer blends, and polymer composites. He serves as a member of Asian-Australasian Association for Composite Materials (AACM) Council and the standing council of Chinese Society for Composites, as well as President of Guangdong Society for Composites. In 1997, he received the prestigious fellowship from the Natural Science Foundation of China for Outstanding Young Scientists; and in 2005, the Li Ka Shing Foundation and the Ministry of Education of China selected him as a Cheung Kong Scholar. In addition, Professor Zhang is on the editorial board of eight scientific journals and holds forty-three patents. Min Zhi Rong obtained his PhD degree in polymer chemistry and physics in 1994 in Zhongshan University. Before that, he was a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University. His main interests are focused on thermosetting/thermoplastic blends, polymeric functional materials, structure of polymer networks, polymeric nanocorhposites, natural fiber composites, and self-healing of polymeric materials. Among his many professional accolades, Professor Rong won the 2007 Prize for Achievements in Natural Science Research for his work on polymer nanocomposites awarded by the Ministry of Education of China. Along with having been published in about 180 journal papers and book chapters, Professor Rong also holds thirty five patents.