The book provides a wide introduction on history, minerology, geology, and the characteristics and application of different natural nanotubes. It is the first comprehensive book to discuss natural nanotubes, particularly halloysite nanotubes. The book will be useful mainly for postgraduate students and researchers working on the application of n

Pooria Pasbakhsh, PhD, is a lecturer at the School of Engineering at Monash University in Selangor, Malaysia since 2010 with a specialty in polymer nanocomposites and nanomaterials. He has published several journal and conference papers on characterization and applications of halloysite nanotubes. Since 2007 his research has been supported by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia, Monash University, University of Science Malaysia and Geological Survey of South Australia Resources and Energy Group where he did a short postdoc on characterization of various halloysite nanotubes from different origins at the University of Adelaide in Australia. His current research interests concern the preparation, characterization, and modeling of bionanocomposites for packaging and medical applications. He is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK), and the Australian Clay Minerals Society.

G. Jock Churchman, PhD, is adjunct senior lecturer in soils at the University of Adelaide and part-time associate professor at the Centre for Environment Risk Assessment and Remediation at the University of South Australia. He continues trying to understand why halloysite contains interlayer water (his specific PhD thesis topic) while also pursuing many other research topics on clays, especially in soils. He was employed in the New Zealand Soil Bureau, DSIR for 16 years and in CSIRO Division of Soils (later Land and Water) for 14 years, and has held visiting fellowships in soil science at Reading University and the University of Western Australia. He is a former editor (now emeritus) of the journal of Applied Clay Science. In 2005, he completed a BA (Hons) in philosophy from Flinders University of South Australia with a thesis on the philosophical status of soil science. He obtained degrees in chemistry from Otago University in his native New Zealand. He studied the physical chemistry of halloysite for his PhD, under a fellowship from the New Zealand pottery and ceramics industry and carried out research for this industry for a short time before beginning a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in soil science at the University of Wisconsin, USA.

Introduction. Part 1: The Major Nanotubular Minerals and their Structures. Phyllosilicates Used as Nanotube Substrates in Engineered Materials: Structures, Chemistries, and Textures. Part 2: The Identification and Nomenclature of Natural Mineral Nanotubes (A Historical Perspective). The Identification and Nomenclature of Halloysite (A Historical Perspective). The Identification and Nomenclature of Sepiolite and Palygorskite (A Historical Perspective). The Identification and Nomenclature of Chrysotile (A Historical Perspective). Part 3: Mineralogy, Geology and Occurrence of Natural Mineral Nanotubes. The Mineralogy, Geology and Occurrences of Halloysite. The Mineralogy, Geology and Main Occurences of Sepiolite and Playgorskite Clays. The Mineralogy, Geology and Main Occurrences of Chrysotile. Part 4: Applications of Natural Mineral Nanotubes in Nanocomposites. Polymer Nanocomposites Reinforced by Halloysite Nanotubes: A Review. Part 5: Biopolymer Composites of Natural Mineral Nanotubes and Their Applications. Bionanocomposites of Sepiolite and Palygorskite and Their Medical Issues. Biopolymer Nanocomposites: Poly Lactic Acid/Halloysite Nanotube Composites. Halloysite-Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications. Current Research on Chitosan-Halloysite Composites. Part 6: Mechanical Properties of Halloysite and Other Nanotubes. Measurement of the Elastic Modulus of Halloysite Nanotubes Using Atomic Force Microscopy. Mechanics of Halloysite Nanotubes. Part 7: Modification of Natural Mineral Nanotubes. Functionalization and Compatiblization of Halloysite Nanotubes. Modification of Sepiolite and Palygorskite Nanotubes and Their Applications. Organopalygorskites Prepared From Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Their Environmental Uses. Surface Modification of Halloysite Nanotubes: Role of External Hydroxyl Groups. Part 8: Natural Mineral Nanotubes as Nanoreactors used in Industrial and Agricultural Applications. Halloysite Tubule Nanoreactors in Industrial and Agricultural Applications. Some Further Industrial, Environmental and Biomedical Applications of Halloysite Nanotubes. Nanotubular Minerals as Templates and Nanoreactors. Part 9: Medical and Health applications of Natural Mineral Nanotubes and Their Health Problems. Medical and Health Applications of Halloysite Nanotubes. Medical and Health Applications of Natural Mineral Nanotubes. The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Different Naturally-Occurring Halloysites. Health Effects of Carbon Nanotubes and Some Comparisons with Natural Mineral Nanotubes. Part 10: Final Remarks. Current Trends in Research and Application of Natural Mineral Nanotubes. Index.