Includes index.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Contributors -- About the editors -- Preface -- 1 -- Introduction: different types of smart materials and their practical applications -- 1 Introduction to smart materials -- 2 Smart materials: definition and fundamental characteristics -- 3 Types of smart materials -- 3.1 Piezoelectric materials -- 3.2 Magnetostrictive materials -- 3.3 Shape-memory alloys -- 3.4 Chromic materials -- 3.5 Thermoresponsive materials -- 4 Application of smart materials -- 5 Conclusion -- References

2 -- Role of characterization techniques in evaluating the material properties of nanoparticle-based polymer materials -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Crystallographic properties -- 3 Morphological properties -- 4 Thermal properties -- 5 Antimicrobial properties -- 6 Conclusion -- References -- 3 -- Self-healing based on composites and nanocomposites materials: from synthesis to application and modeling -- 1 -- Introduction -- 1.1 Types of healing process in polymers -- 1.1.1 -- Intrinsic self-healing polymers -- 1.1.2 -- Extrinsic self-healing polymers -- 1.1.2.1 -- Vascular self-healing materials

1.1.2.2 -- Microcapsules-based self-healing materials -- 1.2 -- Practical applications of self-healing polymers -- 1.2.1 -- Self-healing coating systems -- 1.2.2 -- Healing in presence of structural reinforcements -- 1.3 -- Evaluation of healing efficiency -- 1.3.1 -- Quasi-static fracture -- 1.3.2 -- Fatigue -- 1.3.3 -- Impact damage/indentation -- 1.4 -- Theoretical models of healing mechanisms -- 2 -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 -- Thermochromic composite materials: synthesis, properties and applications -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Thermochromic materials classification

2.1 Inorganic reversible thermochromic materials -- 2.1.1 Crystal water gain/loss mechanism -- 2.1.2 Crystal transfer mechanism -- 2.2 Liquid crystal -- 2.3 Organic reversible thermochromic materials -- 2.3.1 Structural change in the molecule -- 2.3.1.1 Crystal transition mechanism -- 2.3.1.2 Dimensional structure change -- 2.3.1.3 Intermolecular proton transfer -- 2.4.1 Intermolecular electron transfer -- 3 Thermochromic material synthesis -- 3.1 Liquid phase deposition -- 3.2 Solid phase deposition -- 3.3 Vapor deposition -- 4 Properties of thermochromic composite materials

5 Thermochromic material applications -- 5.1 Textile field -- 5.2 Thermochromic smart window -- 5.3 Anticounterfeiting field -- 5.4 Sensors -- 5.5 Temperature indicators -- 6 Conclusion -- References -- 5 -- Piezoelectric polymer films: synthesis, applications, and modeling -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Piezoelectric polymers: types, fabrication, and applications -- 2.1 Bulk polymers -- 2.2 Piezocomposites -- 2.3 Charged cellular polymer films (ferroelectrets) -- 2.3.1 Most used cellular polymers -- 2.3.2 Case study: development of cellular polyethylene ferroelectrets