Advanced Fibers, Plastics, Laminates and Composites : 2001 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, MA

Speakers from 15 industries and 40 countries come together in this volume to offer a truly international and interdisciplinary review of advanced fibers, polymers, plastics, laminates and composites. As a result, many new scientific breakthroughs are reported and several new commercial ventures are reviewed. Discussions focus on two major areas-those devoted to advances in the fields of natural fibers, natural polymers and composites based on natural fibers and/or natural matrix materials or natural matrix precursors, and those focusing on recent advances in the fields of conventional synthetic fibers, polymers and composites. The fields of advanced natural fibers, polymers and composites represent a rapidly growing scientific and technical area. Traditionally, these topics have been reviewed in separate conferences, but not as an integral part of a conference on advanced fibers, polymers and composites in general. A comprehensive review of these topics within the framework of the larger topic of the symposium represents a "first" for the Materials Research Society or any professional society. The field of advanced synthetic fibers and plastics continues to diversify, affording new experimental and commercial applications. For example, a new injection molding process for making commercial polyolefin-based nanocomposites offering superior properties in car body side panels is featured. Topics include: natural fibers and properties; natural fibers and natural plastics; natural plastics and composites; composites from natural fibers and/or plastics; glass, carbon and other reinforcing fibers; polymer and resin matrix materials; polymer and ceramic matrix composites; ceramic and metal matrix composites; advanced composite structures; and carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers and composites.Wallenberger, F. T. is the author of 'Advanced Fibers, Plastics, Laminates and Composites : 2001 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, MA', published 2002 under ISBN 9781558996380 and ISBN 1558996389.