ABSTRACT
The invention of quick, responsive, smart, multifunctional, lightweight polymer composites has been proven to be a boon in modern human civilization, and they are becoming increasingly popular to meet the various needs of fast-moving society. In order to mitigate various negative aspects of the modern times including unwanted radiation/sound pollution and energy crisis, the development and effective utilization of various polymeric, lightweight, smart materials are crucial in the fields of pollution abatement and non-conventional energy sectors. Therefore, the present chapter reports on three major types of smart, lightweight, polymer composites, i.e., magnetostrictive and magnetorheological polymer composites, electromagnetic radiation absorber material, and piezoelectric materials, of which magnetic field sensitive and electromagnetic radiation absorber materials are suitable as absorbers of unwanted sound waves and radiation, whereas the latter has huge prospects as non-conventional energy resources. Herein, the recent advances in the syntheses, properties, performance potentials, and application prospects of smart materials are covered, giving special emphasis to the roles of variable factors in determining the nature of complicated response and performances of the aforementioned materials.
