Vikas Mittal is an Assistant Professor at the Chemical Engineering Department of The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi. He obtained his PhD in 2006 in Polymer and Materials Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. Later, he worked as Materials Scientist in the Active and Intelligent Coatings section of SunChemical in London, UK and as Polymer Engineer at BASF Polymer Research in Ludwigshafen, Germany. His research interests include polymer nanocomposites, novel filler surface modifications, thermal stability enhancements, polymer latexes with functionalized surfaces etc. He has authored over 40 scientific publications, book chapters and patents on these subjects.

First-hand information on the types of polymers and fillers as well as processing conditions needed to make the resulting composite suitable for a particular application.
Simplifying the fabrication of durable plastics, the text discusses proven and promising methods to achieve a compatibilization between the organic and inorganic phases in such thermoset polymers as polyurethanes, phenolic resins, polyesters, and epoxies. Of particular significance are the chapters dealing with those agents, such as maleic anhydride elastomers, hydroxyl or carboxylic acid functionalized copolymers or metallocenes, that catalyze the reactive processing.
A must-have for the polymer engineer.

Preface
EPOXY-VERMICULITE NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Experimental
Results and Discussion
Conclusions
POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES WITH UV-CURED EPOXIES
Introduction
Photopolymerization of Epoxides
Limits in Curing Epoxy Composites by UV Irradiation
Top-Down UV-Cured Epoxy Nanocomposites
Bottom-Up UV-Cured Epoxy Nanocomposites
Conclusions
INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC MODIFICATION AND POLYURETHANE STRUCTURE ON CLAY DISPERSION IN POLYURETHANE-CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES
Polymer Nanocomposites: An Introduction
Polyurethane-Clay Nanocomposites
Conclusions
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF FORMALDEHYDE-BASED THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Theoretical Background of Thermal Kinetics
Thermal Properties of Nanocomposites
Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites
Summary
MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF THERMOSET CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Viscoelasticity Analysis: Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)
Rigidity - Young's Modulus
Strain at Break
Stress at Break - Fracture Toughness
Conclusion
UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESIN CLAY HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites
Clay Minerals
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Clay-UP Nanocomposites
Flame Retardants
Bio-Derived Unsaturated Polyester-Clay Nanocomposites
HYPERBRANCHED POLYMERS AS CLAY SURFACE MODIFICATIONS FOR NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Hyperbranched Polymers for Antimicrobial Surface
Hyperbranched Polymers on Adsorbents for Cr(VI) Water Treatment
NEW METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF METAL AND CLAY THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Thermoset Nanocomposites Based on Nanoclays
Thermoset Nanocomposites Based on Metal Nanoparticles
Concluding Remarks
BIO-BASED EPOXY RESIN/CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
Bio-Based Epoxy Resins and Hardeners
Bio-Based Epoxy Resins/Clay Nanocomposites
Conclusion
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES AND ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING RESPONSE OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING THERMOSETTING NANOCOMPOSITES
Introduction
EMI Shield and Shielding Effectiveness
Conclusions