This reference analyzes the chemical reactions, structures, and fundamental properties of supercritical fluid systems for the production of new compounds, nanomaterials, fibers, and films. It compiles the latest research and technological advances, offering the reader increased selectivity and reduced waste in chemical, industrial, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications.

Supercritical Fluid Technology in Materials Science and Engineering contains models illustrating the use of rapid expansion supercritical solutions (RESS) for the synthesis of inorganic, polymeric, organic, pharmaceutical, and multicomponent particles; presents practical examples that demonstrate the impact of polymer architecture and solvent quality on solubility; discusses the utilization of supercritical fluids and mixtures as solvent systems for materials processing and for the preparation of polymer fibers and films; and more.

From the Preface: “...Recently, significant progress has been made in the use of supercritical fluids and mixtures as reaction media for chemical syntheses and polymer preparations and as alternative solvent systems for materials processing. In fact, materials-related applications have emerged as a new frontier in the development of supercritical fluid technology. I hope that this book will be a timely contribution to this emerging research field by serving at least two purposes. One is to provide interested readers with a rich source of information on the current status of supercritical fluid technology as related to materials research. The second is to stimulate more interest within the multidisciplinary supercritical fluid research community for the further development of the technology in materials-related applications.”

Target Audience: Inorganic chemists; materials scientists; materials, plastics, polymer, chemical, industrial, and manufacturing engineers; physicists; and upper-level students in these disciplines.

Table of Contents:

Fundamental Properties of Supercritical Fluids

NMR Investigation of High-Pressure, High-Temperature Chemistry and Fluid Dynamics

Organic Chemical Reactions and Catalysis in Supercritical Fluid Media

Homogeneous Catalysts in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Supercritical Fluid Processing of Polymeric Materials

Surfactants in Supercritical Fluids

In Situ Blending of Electrically Conducting Polymers in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Under Supercritical Conditions

Production of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Supercritical Fluids

Metal Processing in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Understanding the RESS Process

Pharmaceutical and Biological Materials Processsing with Supercritical Fluids

Preparation and Processing of Nanoscale Materials by Supercritical Fluid Technology

Index