Handbook of Natural Polymers, Volume 3. Versatile Applications

Authors

M.S. Sreekala Associate Professor, School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India, and Joint Director, International and Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and School of Nanoscience and Technology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Dr M.S. Sreekala is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Postgraduate Research Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara College, Kalady, India. Her research interests include polymer composites, biodegradable and green composites, and thermosetting materials. She has published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has edited 6 books. Dr. Sreekala received the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt post-doctoral fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany, and conducted research at the Institute for Composite Materials, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. She was also awarded a post-doctoral fellowship from the Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan, and conducted research at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yamaguchi University, Japan. She has organized many national and international conferences and delivered invited talks at many international conferences within India and abroad. Lakshmipriya Ravindran Assistant Professor, School of Energy Materials, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Lakshmipriya Ravindran, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Postgraduate Research Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara College, Kalady, India. Her research interests include polymer nanocomposites, nanofillers of bio origin, carbon nanotubes, the incorporation of nanofillers to thermosetting polymers, and their applications. She has attended, and presented papers at, several international conferences and seminars, published peer-reviewed research articles in international journals, and has authored two book chapters. Koichi Goda Full Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yamaguchi University, Japan. Prof. Koichi Goda is Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Full Professor, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, at Yamaguchi University, Japan. Prof. Goda has significant experience in areas including biopolymers, composite materials, reliability, and nanotechnology, with recent research focusing on green composites. He has received numerous awards for his work in including most recently the Meritorious Contribution Award from JCOM (Committee on Composite Materials of JSMS - The Society of Materials Science, Japan) in 2018, and the JSMS Award for Distinguished Service to Chugoku Branch in 2020. Sabu Thomas Full Professor, International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Prof. Sabu Thomas is a renowned professor who is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences, a role which he has held since 1998. He was previously Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University 2017-2018, Director of School of Chemical Science during 2010-2013, Hon. Director of International & Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2009-2015 and 2016-17. In 2015, Prof. Thomas received his first Docteur Honoris Causa from University of Souther Brittany in Lorient, France. In 2016, he received his second Doctorate honoris causa from University of Lorraine, France. He was awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, FRSC in 2012. He received the Bronze Medal of the Chemical Research Society of India and the MRSI Medal of the Material Research Society of India in 2013. He was the recipient of Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award 2017. He also received TRiLA Academician of the year 2018 award. Prof. Thomas has published more than 1000 publications, and more than 100 books.