Table of Contents

1. Polymers to improve the world and lifestyle: physical, mechanical and chemical needs 2. Morphology analysis 3. Chemical analysis of polymers 4. Mechanical analysis of polymers 5. Physical and thermal analysis of polymers 6. Theoretical simulation approaches to polymer research 7. An example of theoretical approaches in polymer hydrogels: insights into the behavior of pH-responsive nanofilms 8. Pectin as oral colon-specific nano- and microparticulate drug carriers 9. Starch as oral colon-specific nano- and microparticulate drug carriers 10. Polymers in textiles 11. Polymers in electronics 12. Polymers in robotics 13. Polymers in optics 14. Polymers in space exploration and commercialization 15. Polymers in sports 16. Polymers and food packaging 17. Polymers in cosmetics 18. Polymers in food 19. Future needs and trends: influence of polymers on the environment

About the Author

Professor Mariam Al Ali AlMaadeed is Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Professor, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Science from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt in 2001, and joined the Physics Department at Qatar University in the same year. Prof. AlMaadeed has excellent experience and a large amount of internationally recognized work in the field of polymers, characterization and structure, as well as in nanocomposites and nanotechnology. Her work is featured in more than 130 journals and conference publications. Prof. AlMaadeed has given many consultations and workshops to a diverse group of organizations, across industry, government ministries, and communities. She is currently a member in many advisory committees and editorial board bodies such as Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science, Taylor and Francis and Emergent Materials, Springer. Prof. AlMaadeed has designed and contributed to many workshops, symposiums and conferences in the field of materials science, and in teaching and learning strategies. She received the Physics State Award for 2010, the Gulf Petrochemical Association (GPCA) Plastic Excellence Award in 2014 and the ISESCO Prize in Science & Technology 2016. Dr. Deepalekshmi Ponnamma is a Lecturer in Materials Science and Technology, at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University. She is a PhD graduate from the Deakin University, Australia, and finished the post-doctoral studies from Qatar University. She has a research experience of more than 10 years with special focus on polymer nanocomposites and various nanomaterials. Dr. Ponnamma has more than 100 research articles published in international peer reviewed journals. She has contributed around 20 book chapters and edited 9 books, all focusing on the various fabrication methods and applications of nanomaterials and polymer nanocomposites. For the past three years, Dr. Ponnamma has been working on synthesizing the different nanoarchitectures, polymer nanocomposites and block copolymer membranes for efficient technological applications such as energy storage, environmental applications including photocatalysis and water purification. Dr. Marcelo Carignano received his Ph.D. in Physics from the National University of La Plata, Argentina. His research experience covers the application of computational methods to elucidate detailed structural and dynamical properties of different systems, including polymers at interfaces, colloidal and polymeric gels, aqueous solutions and interfaces, molecular crystals and hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites. He joined QEERI in 2012, after spending several years at different institutions in the United States.