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Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 15441

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aleksander Hejna

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Guest Editor

Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 61-138 Poznan, Poland
Interests: polymer composites; reactive processing; lignocellulose fillers; filler modification; recycling; waste management; polyurethane foams
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Polymers is preparing a Special Issue entitled “Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling”.

The manufacturing of polymer-based composites is one of the most auspicious ways to broaden the application range of polymer materials. Incorporation of various fillers into polymer matrices, depending on their type and origin, may be aimed at cost reduction, lowering the environmental impact of composites, but also at enhancement or providing additional properties, such as high strength or stiffness, reduced flammability, insulation properties, improved thermal stability, and others. Nevertheless, composites' preparation challenges the researchers in many ways, which is attributed to their multi-phase structure. Therefore, it is crucial to properly design and manufacture polymer composites in order to take advantage of combining multiple materials of often diverse nature, structure, and properties. Such an approach guarantees the compatibility of the material and significantly broadens the range of their potential applications. The complex structures of polymer composites also pose difficulties in their recycling, which is currently often emphasized by the circular economy approaches. The concept of polymer composites is comprehensive and interdisciplinary. Therefore, because of the richness of potential innovations and future developments, the Editors are pleased to launch this Special Issue and invite the Researchers to contribute their original research papers and reviews associated with the “Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling”.

Selected example topics include, but are not limited to:

Innovations in the manufacturing of polymer composites,
Enhancement of the interfacial interactions in polymer composites,
Reactive processing and compatibilization of polymer composites
Structure-property relationships in polymer composites,
Biodegradation of polymer composites,
Innovative applications of polymer composites,
Technological and environmental aspects of polymer composites recycling,
Assessment of the environmental impacts of polymer composites.

Dr. Aleksander Hejna
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymer composites
nanocomposites
interfacial adhesion
structure-property relationships
filler modification
polymer modification
compatibilization
reactive processing
mechanical properties
morphology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 11214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Effects of Nonlinear Behavior Characteristics of Prepreg Dielectric on Warpage of Substrate under Laminating Process

by Seunghyun Cho and Youngbae Ko

Polymers 2022, 14(3), 561; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14030561 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2273

Abstract

To analyze the effects of nonlinear behavior characteristics of prepreg (PPG) among the insulating materials of substrate and the residual stress of laminating process on the warpage of substrate, this study investigated the continuous laminating process using the numerical analysis by finite element method. The analysis results showed that the warpage of the substrate in the laminating process of PPG was very low, but it increased rapidly in the solder resist (SR) laminating process. As the laminating process of PPG continued, the stress inside the substrate increased continuously and it was predicted to decrease in the SR laminating process. These results confirmed that the warpage of the substrate is influenced the most by the SR laminating process, and that the warpage and stress of substrate accumulated in the laminating process of PPG have significant effects on the final warpage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling)

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18 pages, 6561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical, Fracture, and Microstructural Assessment of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites Containing Na₂O

by Ahmad Rashedi, Riadh Marzouki, Ali Raza, Nurul Fazita Mohammad Rawi and J. Naveen

Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3852; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13213852 - 08 Nov 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 1975

Abstract

For a sustainable environment, geopolymer (GPO) paste can be used in the construction industry instead of Portland cement. Nowadays, sustainable construction and high-efficacy composites are demanding. Therefore, in the present investigation, the mechanical and microstructural efficacy of carbon-fiber-reinforced fly ash-based GPO with different percentages of nano-sodium dioxide (NS) were studied. The investigated percentages of NS were 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. For all the samples, the carbon fiber content was kept the same at 0.5% by weight. Different percentages of NS for all five fabricated GPO composite pastes were assessed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Various mechanical parameters of GPO—the compressive strength, toughness modulus, hardness, toughness indices, impact strength, fracture toughness, flexural strength, and elastic modulus—were evaluated. The results revealed that the use of 3% NS was the most effective for ameliorating the mechanical, microstructural, and fracture behavior of GPO. The use of 3% NS in carbon-fiber-reinforced GPO paste showed the maximum improvements of 22%, 46%, 30%, 40%, 14%, 38.4%, 50.2%, 31%, and 64% for the compressive strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, toughness modulus, hardness, compressive stiffness, bending stiffness, fracture toughness, and impact strength, respectively. The SEM study showed that the inclusion of NS improved the microstructure and delivered a denser GPO paste by improving the interfacial zones and quickening the polymerization reaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling)

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Review

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21 pages, 29529 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polydimethylsiloxane Composites Characterization and Its Applications: A Review

by Ronaldo Ariati, Flaminio Sales, Andrews Souza, Rui A. Lima and João Ribeiro

Polymers 2021, 13(23), 4258; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13234258 - 05 Dec 2021

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 10460

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the most promising elastomers due its remarkable proprieties such as good thermal stability, biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, flexibility, low cost, ease of use, chemically inertia, hyperplastic characteristics, and gas permeability. Thus, it can be used in areas such as microfluidic systems, biomedical devices, electronic components, membranes for filtering and pervaporation, sensors, and coatings. Although pure PDMS has low mechanical properties, such as low modulus of elasticity and strength, it can be improved by mixing the PDMS with other polymers and by adding particles or reinforcements. Fiber-reinforced PDMS has proved to be a good alternative to manufacturing flexible displays, batteries, wearable devices, tactile sensors, and energy harvesting systems. PDMS and particulates are often used in the separation of liquids from wastewater by means of porosity followed by hydrophobicity. Waxes such as beeswax and paraffin have proved to be materials capable of improving properties such as the hydrophobic, corrosion-resistant, thermal, and optical properties of PDMS. Finally, when blended with polymers such as poly (vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate), PDMS becomes a highly efficient alternative for membrane separation applications. However, to the best of our knowledge there are few works dedicated to the review and comparison of different PDMS composites. Hence, this review will be focused on PDMS composites, their respective applications, and properties. Generally, the combination of elastomer with fibers, particles, waxes, polymers, and others it will be discussed, with the aim of producing a review that demonstrates the wide applications of this material and how tailored characteristics can be reached for custom applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composites: Structure, Properties, Applications and Recycling)

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