Materials Science and Chemistry

Applied Materials Chemistry

The effects of ultrasound induce certain physical changes like the dispersal of fillers and other components into base polymers (as in the formulation of paints), the encapsulation of inorganic supplements with polymers, changing of particle size in polymer powders, and most important is the welding and cutting of thermoplastics. In contrast, chemical changes can also be created during ultrasonic irradiation as a result of cavitation, and these effects have been used to favour many areas of polymer chemistry. In materials science, the sol-gel conversion is a method for producing solid materials from small molecules. This method is used for the fabrication of metal oxides particularly the oxides of silicon and titanium. The process involves conversion of monomers into a colloidal solution (sol) that acts as the precursor for an integrated network (or gel) of either discrete particles or network polymers.