Phenolic Based Foams: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications (Gels Horizons: From Science to Smart Materials)

This book covers the latest developments in phenolic foams and their applications. Compared with polystyrene and polyurethane foams, phenolic foams are known as third-generation polymeric foams. Phenolic foams exhibit excellent fire-retardant properties, including low flammability, low peak heat release rate, no dripping during combustion, and low toxicity. This book discusses various aspects of phenolic foams including properties, synthesis, fabrication methodologies, and applications. The contents also cover the methods for toughening of phenolic foams to make them more widely applicable. This book is of interest to both academics and industry alike. It is also a useful reference for fire safety regulators and policy-makers looking for new materials and methods for sustainable fire protection.

Sandhya P. K. is currently Research Assistant at School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. She has received her M. Phil. in Chemistry in 2009 and Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2019 from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. Her doctoral research is focused on graphene-based phenol formaldehyde nanocomposites, and her research interests include the preparation of phenolic foams reinforced with graphene. She has published seven research papers in international journals and authored four book chapters. She has participated in several conferences and seminars of national and international repute.

Sreekala M. S. is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Postgraduate Research Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara College, India. She received her Master’s of Philosophy in Chemistry in 1995 and Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in 2001 from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. She has published over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has held a number of scientific positionsand research fellowships. She has edited six books. She bagged the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) post-doctoral fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation, Germany, and awarded the JSPS post-doctoral fellowship from Japan Society for Promotion of Science. In 2020, she was included in the top 2% scientists in the world (Rising stars List) by Stanford University, USA. She has an h-index 30 and i10-index 43 with 6488 citations.

Prof. Sabu Thomas is currently Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He is an outstanding leader with sustained international acclaim for his work in nanoscience, polymer science and engineering and green materials. He has received more than 30 national and international awards. He has published over 1200 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews, and book chapters. He has co-edited 150 books and is an inventor of 15 patents. The H index of him is 114 and has more than 62,000 citations. He has delivered over 350 plenary/inaugural and invited lectures in national/international meetings over 40 countries. He has supervised 115 Ph.D. programs and his students occupy leading positions in academia and industry in globally.