Statistical Thermodynamics and Differential Geometry of Microstructured Materials

Book excerpt: Substances possessing heterogeneous microstructure on the nanometer and micron scales are scientifically fascinating and technologically useful. Examples of such substances include liquid crystals, microemulsions, biological matter, polymer mixtures and composites, vycor glasses, and zeolites. In this volume, an interdisciplinary group of researchers report their developments in this field. Topics include statistical mechanical free energy theories which predict the appearance of various microstructures, the topological and geometrical methods needed for a mathematical description of the subparts and dividing surfaces of heterogeneous materials, and modern computer-aided mathematical models and graphics for effective exposition of the salient features of microstructured materials.