Micro- and Nanostructured Epoxy Thermosetting Polymer Blends and their Nanocomposites

Sabu Thomas is a Professor and Director of the International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. Professor Thomas is internationally recognized for his contributions to polymer science and engineering, with his research interests encompassing polymer nanocomposites, elastomers, polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, polymer membranes, green composites, nanocomposites, nanomedicine, and green nanotechnology. His groundbreaking inventions in polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, green bionanotechnology, and nano-biomedical sciences have significantly advanced the development of new materials for the automotive, space, housing, and biomedical fields.Professor Oluwafemi is a fully-fledged academic that is involved in Teaching & Learning, Research, Community Engagement, staff and student mentorship among many other activities. His research interest is in the synthesis of binary, ternary and quaternary semiconductor nanomaterial and nanostructures such as quantum dots, metal nanomaterials, core-shells, doped nanostructures and polymer nanocomposites for different applications which includes biological, (basically for cancer treatment ie imaging, labelling, drug delivery photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy), optical (development of optical devices), environmental (sensing and determination of environmental pollutants), nanotoxicology and water treatment. He is also involved in the indigenous knowledge system (IKS) for value added chain using different South African medicinal plants. This involves isolation, extraction, biological activity testing, and synthesis of nanomaterial using the plant extract and packaging for pharmaceutical purposes. VR Remya is a Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She has successfully completed a three-year DRDO, India-sponsored project, on nanostructured polymer blends at the International and Inter-university Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. She has published several articles in international and national journals and has presented her work at various international conferences. Her research interests include nanostructured polymer blends and composites, toughening of epoxy resins, synthesis and applications of quantum dots and nanoparticles, fabrication of super-tough and fluorescent material for nanotechnology industrial applications, nanostructured smart materials, and much more. Dr. Jince Thomas is the Chief Minister's Nava Kerala Post-Doctoral Fellow at the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala, India. Previously, he worked as an Assistant Professor on contract at the same institution. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2022 under the guidance of Prof. Sabu Thomas. During 2016-2017, he worked as a project assistant on an Indo-Malaysian project in collaboration with University Technology Mara, Malaysia. Additionally, he was a visiting student at Ariel University in Israel and the University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA. Dr. Jince has contributed to numerous publications, book chapters, and edited books, with his research interests focused on polymeric membranes, electrolytes, polymer nanocomposites, and electrochemistry.

• Section 1: Fundamental Chemistry1. Epoxy thermosetting polymer systems- fundamentals, challenges and opportunities2. Formulations of epoxy resins3. Block copolymers as epoxy modifiers: State of the art and new challenges4. Chemical Modification Effects in Epoxy/Block Copolymer Blends and Nanocomposites: Micro-Nanostructure Formation, Miscibility, and MorphologySection 2: Synthesis and Fabrication5. Improving properties of epoxy resins by formation of micro or nanostructures with different fillers: Synthesis and fabrication routesSection 3: Properties6. Morphological insights and property synergies in epoxy blends and nanocomposites with interpenetrating polymer networks7. Dynamic Behavior of Micro-Nanostructured Epoxy Resin Blends and Nanocomposites8. Self-healing mechanisms in epoxy/block copolymers and their nanocomposite systems9. Insights into interfacial interactions: impacts on morphology and properties in epoxy block copolymer blends and composites10. Block Copolymer Self-Assembly: Effects on micro-nanostructure, mobility, and mechanical properties, including de-mixing11. Development of hierarchical nanostructured systems using triblock co-polymer blends-Dynamics and morphology during network formation12. Experimental, Numerical and Simulation Investigation of Epoxy/Block Copolymer Blend Nanocomposites: Applications in Heat ExchangersSection 4: Applications13. Epoxy/block copolymer and nanocomposites: advancements and applications in aerospace14. Emerging surface coatings: applications of epoxy/block copolymer and their nanocomposite systems15. Epoxy/block copolymer and nanocomposite systems for structural adhesive applications16. Epoxy/block copolymer and nanocomposite systems in super-toughness materials and engineering applications17. Progresses in epoxy resin-based nanocomposites for optoelectronic applications18. Advancing sustainability: reuse and recycling applications of Epoxy/Thermoplastic copolymer blends, nanocomposites, and Biobased Epoxy Resin.19. Applications of epoxy/block copolymer blends and nanocomposites in life cycle analysis20. Future Directions of Nanostructured Epoxy/Block Copolymer Blends and Blend Nanocomposites21. Epoxy/block copolymer blends and nanocomposites: innovative movement from lab to industry