Composite materials are made from at least two different materials with significantly different properties and behaviour. When such materials are combined, the produced composite has completely different characteristics compared to the individual components. In ancient Egypt, the earliest composite materials where created to form bricks out of mud and straw for building constructions. Polymeric composites are steadily growing and are one of the most promising material classes, which have the opportunity to deal with new challenges approaching from the market. These materials are often stronger, lighter or less expensive when compared to traditional materials, but the demands and needs are getting more diverse and complex. Modern composites comprise the incorporation of filler in micro and nanoscale, as well as the construction of specific structure especially the imitation of nature - to create new or improved material properties. This book gives an overview of the scientific investigations carried out in recent years. The topics discussed are forging an arc over different kinds of composite materials such as composites based on commonly available polymeric raw materials, but also composites based on biological raw materials as well as the achievable material properties comprising mechanical, electrical, structural and tribological properties. Additionally, the book is also shedding light on the construction and structuring of such composites using nature as an inspiring example.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Evolution of Novel Size-Dependent Properties in Polymer-Matrix Composites due to Polymer Filler Interactions; New Development in Polymer Composites Research & Applications of Polymer-Cement Matrices for Solidification/Stabilization of Radioactive Wastes; New Fabrication Techniques of Conductive Polymer/Insulative Polymer Composite Films for Printed Electronics; Nanocomposites Based on Block Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone Copolymers & In Situ-Generated Nanoparticles of Zirconium Phosphate; Conducting Polymer Composite Films Based on Polyaniline: Dielectric & Electrical Properties; Thermosetting Biopolymers Reinforced with Natural Fibres: A Review; Fundamental Investigations of Reinforcement of Expanded Perlite in Polypropylene; New Thermally Conductive Liquid Crystalline Polyester & its Composites; Determination of Binodal Curves in Ternary Polymer Systems: Co-/Polymers Compatibility; Influence of Chemical Stress on Sulfur-Polymer Composite Structure; Effect of Contact Temperature on the Tribological Behavior of PTFE Composites; Injection Molding Compounding of Polymer Nanocomposites; Structural Organisation & Biomimesis of Nature's Polymer Composites; Index.