Physical Chemistry for Engineering and Applied Sciences (PDF)

Sabu Thomas, PhD, is a Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences and Director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. The research activities of Professor Thomas include surfaces and interfaces in multiphase polymer blend and composite systems; phase separation in polymer blends; compatibilization of immiscible polymer blends; thermoplastic elastomers; phase transitions in polymers; nanostructured polymer blends; macro-, micro- and nanocomposites; polymer rheology; recycling; reactive extrusion; processing-morphology-property relationships in multiphase polymer systems; double networking of elastomers; natural fibers and green composites; rubber vulcanization; interpenetrating polymer networks; diffusion and transport; and polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering. He has supervised 68 PhD theses, 40 MPhil theses, and 45 Masters thesis. He has three patents to his credit. He also received the coveted Sukumar Maithy Award for the best polymer researcher in the country for the year 2008. Very recently, Professor Thomas received the MRSI and CRSI medals for his excellent work. With over 600 publications to his credit and over 23683 citations, with an h-index of 75, Dr. Thomas has been ranked fifth in India as one of the most productive scientists.

Praveen K. M is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SAINTGITS College of Engineering, India. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Engineering Sciences at the University of South Brittany (Université de Bretagne Sud) - Laboratory IRDL PTR1, Research Center "Christiaan Huygens," in Lorient, France, in the area of coir based polypropylene micro composites and nanocomposites. He has published an international article Applied Surface Science (Elsevier) and has also presented poster and conference papers at national and international conferences. He also has worked with the Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mahatma Gandhi University, India; and the Technical University in Liberec, Czech Republic. His current research interests include plasma modification of polymers, polymer composites for neutron shielding applications, and nanocellulose.