Colloidal smart materials

In fact, even in pure block copolymer (say, diblock copolymer) solutions the self-association behavior of blocks of each type leads to very useful microstructures (see Fig. 1.7), analogous to association colloids formed by short-chain surfactants. The optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of such composites can be significantly different from those of conventional polymer blends (usually simple spherical dispersions). Conventional blends are formed by quenching processes and result in coarse composites in contrast, the above materials result from equilibrium structures and reversible phase transitions and therefore could lead to smart materials capable of responding to suitable external stimuli. 

Cornelius, V.J., Majcen, N., Snowden, M.J., Mitchell, J.C., Voncina, B., 2007. Preparation of SMART wound dressings based on colloidal microgels and textile fibres. In SPIE International Symposium on Smart Materials, Nano- and Micro-smart Systems, Adelaide, Australia. Proc. SPIE — Int. Soc. Op. Eng., vol. 6413, p. 64130X. 

CorneUus VJ, Majcen N., Snowden M.J., MitcheU J.C. and Voncina B. (2007), Preparation of SMART Wound Dressings Based on Colloidal Microgels and Textile Fibres. Smart Materials IV. Edited by Voelcker, Nicolas H., Proceedings oftheSPIE.6413. 

Rosenholm, J.B. et al., Colloidal processing related to the properties of the ceramic pai ticles and the sintered ceramic body, in Proceedings of the International Workshop on Ceramic Intetfaces, Properties and Applications III, Smart, R.St.C and Nowotny, J. eds.. Institute of Materials Press, London, 1998, p. 433. 

Koh Y, Jang S, Kim J, ICim S, Ko YC, Cho S, Sohn H (2008) DBR PSi/PMMA composite materials for smart patch application. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 313-314 328 Krepker MA, Segal E (2013) Dual-functionalized porous Si/hydrogel hybrid for label-free biosensing of organophosphorus compounds. Anal Chem 85 7353 ICruk M, Dufour B, Celer EB, Kowalewski T, Jaroniec M, Matyjaszewski K (2008) Grafting monodisperse polymer chains from concave surfaces of ordered mesoporous silicas. Macromolecules 41 8584... 

The textile industry still constitutes one of Europe s most relevant industrial sectors for both the economy and society. The very latest trend in textile and linked industries is to create miscellaneous new products which possess the potential of interacting with the surrounding environment through active feedback. This class of new interactive material is termed intelligent textile structures or smart textiles. In order to make interactive fabrics available at the industrial level it is necessary to apply a multidisciplinary approach. The route to develop and optimise multifunctional material involves in the same way textile engineering and colloid chemistry. The complexity of the production process for modern composite materials is a real challenge to textile engineering but the fundamentals of interfacial and colloid science are indispensable to characterise and control the... 

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