From the desk of the Guest Editors

Subject: Special issue of Journal of Polymer Engineering

P

olymer nanocomposites have been attracting world wide attention because of their remarkable improved properties compared to pure polymers or their macro composites. Extensive research is continuing in academia, research organisations and industry to develop new products with superior thermal, mechanical, optical, barrier and fire retardant properties. These products are likely to have impact in a wide range of industries such as automotive, packaging, optical, electronic, telecommunication, printing and chemical sensing.

It is our pleasure to present this special issue of Journal of Polymer Engineering devoted to the broad field of polymeric nanocomposites. We hope that this special issue of the Journal adds to the developments and breakthroughs occurring in this exciting field and highlights the pivotal role played by the study of nanocomposites in the general development of this emerging technology. This special issue is based on the presentations in an international workshop held at Melbourne, Australia in 2005. This event was supported by the Polymer Processing Society (PPS), who are an international body fostering scientific understanding and technical innovation in polymer processing. This international workshop brought together experts from nine countries to review the progress and achievements made in recent times in the development and application of polymer nanocomposites. We thank all the authors for their effort in preparing the manuscript and the reviewers for their useful comments in revising the final manuscript.

We hope that you will enjoy reading this issue.

Sincerely,

Professor Sati. N. Bhattacharya

Guest Editor

Dr. Rahul K Gupta

Guest Co-Editor, Special issue of Journal of Polymer Engineering,

Rheology and Materials Processing Centre, School of Civil,

Environmental and Chemical Engineering,

RMIT University, Melbourne,

Victoria 3000 Australia