Surface Treatments for Biological, Chemical, and Physical Applications

Abstract

Solids are composed of a bulk material covered by a surface. The surface acts as an interphase to the surrounding and it is usually the surface phase that determines if a material is suitable for an intended application or not. Hence, treatment of a surface through either chemical or physical routes has been an important topic that has attracted the attention of both researchers and industry because of the endless application possibilities. Surface modification techniques are now being used extensively in the textile, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, defense, chemical, tooling, construction industries, and many more as well. The purpose of this book is to give the reader some generalized concepts on the modification and characterization, as well as some insight on the recent applications of the surfaces. Other than a few old books there is no complete book that describes the whole picture. In addition, we want to get the attention of a broad range of readership including those of undergrad students, technicians, and even individuals that are interested in this topic. The language of the book is clear and concise and provides many excellent illustrations to make their point. The book covers the most basic concepts without complicated analyses so that an individual who is not familiar with the subject can also benefit. We have used as many visuals as possible to show the importance of surface treatments on many applications, including surfaces that are naturally engineered. The first three chapters of the book include basic parts: (1) surfaces in nature, (2) surface modification techniques, and (3) surface characterization techniques. The remaining chapters deal with some emerging chemical and physical applications: (4) surface modification of polymeric membranes for various separation processes, (5) Langmuir–Blodgett films: sensor and biomedical applications and comparisons with the layer-by-layer (LbL) method, (6) surface modification of biopolymer-based nanoforms and their biological applications, (7) enzyme-based biosensors in food industry via surface modifications, and (8) heterogeneous catalysis. The most remarkable examples of surface engineering are abundant in nature. Since the beginning of the life, all kinds of living organisms f