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Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality
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Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 21181

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Juan Pedro Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IMDEA Materials Institute, C/Eric Kandel 2, 28906 Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Interests: polymer composites; nanocomposites; thermomechanical properties; polymer crystallization; 3D printing; additive manufacturing; phase transition; Carbon fibers; glass fibers; biocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Though the history of polymer composites is relatively short, their development has been continuous since the moment bakelite, i.e., asbestos mixed with phenol and formaldehide and hardened by controlled pressure and temperature, considered as the first polymer composite, was patented by Baekeland in 1909. A key of polymer composites’ success is rooted in their versatility, as polymers can be combined as matrices, with hundreds of different options, and other compounds from nanoscale (carbon nanotube, graphene or metal nanowires, etc.) to macro scale (silica, talk, carbon, glass fibers, etc.) give infinitive solutions to create new materials. Likewise, polymer composites’ applications have grown extensively from mainly structural to many different fields, such as biomedical, energy storage, transportation, robotic, defense systems, and information technology, among others, thanks mainly to the multifunctionality that polymer composites may have, depending on the polymer matrix and the specific additives and reinforcements used.

We are presently living a new industrial revolution based on the changes we have experiences in our lifestyles in recent years, increasingly more based on the use of technology devices which require new materials and more energy, causing an intensive natural resource consumption. This process has led to one of the top problems of our generation, environmental protection. Therefore, multifunctional polymer composites must play an important role in the future due to their versatility, such as in the use of new resins and reinforcements, as well as in new processing methods, such as additive manufacturing.

Thus, the topic of this Special Issue is really broad, from the use of new resins such as bio, recyclable, or healable resin, among others, to all kind of additives or reinforcements which provide different multifunctionality to composites. Manufacturing processes are also of interest in this Special Issue, as new or improved technologies are essential in the development and implementation of polymer composites in our evolving style of life.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Juan Pedro Fernández
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. Materials 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 2600 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

  • multifunctional
  • polymer–matrix composite
  • biopolymer
  • nanocomposite
  • mechanical properties
  • electrical properties
  • thermal properties
  • fiber
  • natural fiber
  • structural composite
  • sensing
  • shielding
  • energy storage
  • actuation
  • smart material
  • porous material
  • conductivity
  • self-healing
  • additive manufacturing
  • 3D printing

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 5495 KiB  
Article
Effect of Chemical Blowing Agent on the PVC Cellular Coating Extrusion
by Tomasz Garbacz, Aneta Tor-Świątek and Tomasz Jachowicz
Materials 2020, 13(24), 5752; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13245752 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2109
Abstract
Depending on the type and application, the coatings of power, electric, telecommunication cables as well as other types of conduits are made of various kinds of polymer plastics. However, most often, because of good mechanical properties and many other advantages, they are first [...] Read more.
Depending on the type and application, the coatings of power, electric, telecommunication cables as well as other types of conduits are made of various kinds of polymer plastics. However, most often, because of good mechanical properties and many other advantages, they are first of all made from polyvinyl chlorine (PVC). This paper contains characteristics of the developed cellular extrusion of cable coatings, as well as specification of the blowing agent (BA) used and selected research results of the obtained cellular extrusion product. In technological tests the coating extrusion technological line was used. The material was modified with a new blowing agent of exothermic distribution of process characteristics, which was introduced into the material in quantities from 0.2 to 0.6% wt. The amount of blowing agent used has a direct impact on the density and structure of the received result for the extrusion of modified polymers. The cellular structure of the cellular coatings was presented. The results of the study are thin-walled properties of single- and double-layer cellular outer coatings, forming an outer surface on a steel wire. The research on the structure of manufactured materials, density and the degree of porosity, water and oil absorptivity, mechanical strength is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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18 pages, 8175 KiB  
Article
Effect of Al2O3 with Different Nanostructures on the Insulating Properties of Epoxy-Based Composites
by Yongzhe Tang, Guanghui Ge, Yuxia Li and Liangsong Huang
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4235; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194235 - 23 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
High thermal conductivity insulating dielectrics with good electrical properties have received widespread attention due to the continuous development of power systems and power electronic technologies. In this paper, the effects of differently structured nano alumina fillers on the thermal conductivity and insulating properties [...] Read more.
High thermal conductivity insulating dielectrics with good electrical properties have received widespread attention due to the continuous development of power systems and power electronic technologies. In this paper, the effects of differently structured nano alumina fillers on the thermal conductivity and insulating properties of polymer-based composites were studied. It was found that all three types of Al2O3 nano-fillers enhanced the thermal conductivity of the composites, and the thermal conductivity increased more dramatically with increasing filler particle size. It is worth noting that Al2O3 nanowires (NWs) exhibited the most significant improvement in thermal conductivity. The volume resistivity of the composites first increased and then decreased with increasing mass fraction of fillers, and Al2O3 nanoplates (NPLs) showed the most significant improvement in the insulation performance of the composites. The dielectric constants of the composites increased with increasing mass fraction of fillers, while the dielectric losses first decreased and then increased with the same trend, yet the mass fractions of fillers for the three materials were different when the dielectric loss reached a minimum. In addition, all three types of filler increased the AC breakdown strength of the composites, but Al2O3-NPLs showed the most significant improvement on the breakdown performance of the composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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13 pages, 3138 KiB  
Article
Polycarbonate/Sulfonamide Composites with Ultralow Contents of Halogen-Free Flame Retardant and Desirable Compatibility
by Hangfeng Yang, Hangbo Yue, Xi Zhao, Minzimo Song, Jianwei Guo, Yihua Cui, Juan P. Fernández-Blázquez and De-Yi Wang
Materials 2020, 13(17), 3656; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13173656 - 19 Aug 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
A novel halogen-free flame retardant containing sulfonamide, 1,3,5,7-tetrakis (phenyl-4-sulfonamide) adamantane (FRSN) was synthesized and used for improving the flame retardancy of largely used polycarbonate (PC). The flame-retardant properties of the composites with incorporation of varied amounts of FRSN were analyzed by techniques including [...] Read more.
A novel halogen-free flame retardant containing sulfonamide, 1,3,5,7-tetrakis (phenyl-4-sulfonamide) adamantane (FRSN) was synthesized and used for improving the flame retardancy of largely used polycarbonate (PC). The flame-retardant properties of the composites with incorporation of varied amounts of FRSN were analyzed by techniques including limited oxygen index, UL 94 vertical burning, and cone calorimeter tests. The new FR system with sulfur and nitrogen elements showed effective improvements in PC’s flame retardancy: the LOI value of the modified PC increased significantly, smoke emission suppressed, and UL 94 V-0 achieved. Typically, the composite with only 0.08 wt% of FRSN added (an ultralow content) can increase the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value to 33.7% and classified as UL 94 V-0 rating. Furthermore, the mechanical properties and SEM morphology indicated that the FRSN has very good compatibility with PC matrix, which, in turn, is beneficial to the property enhancement. Finally, the analysis of sample residues after burning tests showed that a high portion of char was formed, contributing to the PC burning protection. This synthesized flame retardant provides a new way of improving PC’s flame retardancy and its mechanical property. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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9 pages, 4125 KiB  
Article
Silver Attached Graphene-Based Aerogel Composite Phase Change Material and the Enhancement of Thermal Conductivity
by Liang Zhang, Zhongke Shi, Buning Zhang and Jinhui Huang
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3271; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153271 - 23 Jul 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2394
Abstract
Phased energy storage technologies are highly advantageous and feasible for storing and utilizing clean renewable energy resources, for instance, solar energy and waste heat, and it is an effective method to improve energy efficiency and save energy. However, phase change energy storage has [...] Read more.
Phased energy storage technologies are highly advantageous and feasible for storing and utilizing clean renewable energy resources, for instance, solar energy and waste heat, and it is an effective method to improve energy efficiency and save energy. However, phase change energy storage has some problems, for example, low thermal conductivity and phase change leakage, which lead to limited application. In this paper, anisotropic graphene aerogels were prepared by ice crystal template method with high thermal conductivity of graphene, and silver was attached to the pore wall graphene sheets and the graphene sheet boundaries of the aerogels. The results show that anisotropic graphene aerogels were successfully prepared, and SEM and EDS indicate that up to 9.14 at % silver was successfully attached to the graphene sheets and boundaries. The anisotropic thermal conductivity of the PArGO phase change composites after adsorption of the paraffin is significant, with a maximum axial thermal conductivity of PArGO of 1.20 W/(mK) and radial thermal conductivity of 0.54 W/(mK), compared to the pure paraffin (0.26 W/(mK)) increased by 362% and 108%, respectively. The enthalpy of the composite has been reduced to 149.6 J/g due to the silver particles attached, but the thermal properties have been greatly improved. In experiments simulating real temperature changes, PArGO achieves phase transitions very fast, with a 74% improvement on thermal efficiency of storage and discharge over the pure paraffin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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13 pages, 3142 KiB  
Article
Cellulose-Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Fiber Actuator Behavior in Aqueous and Organic Electrolyte
by Fred Elhi, Anna-Liisa Peikolainen, Rudolf Kiefer and Tarmo Tamm
Materials 2020, 13(14), 3213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13143213 - 19 Jul 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
As both consumers and producers are shifting from fossil-derived materials to other, more sustainable approaches, there is a growing interest in bio-origin and biodegradable polymers. In search of bio-degradable electro-mechanically active materials, cellulose-multi wall carbon nanotube (Cell-CNT) composites are a focus for the [...] Read more.
As both consumers and producers are shifting from fossil-derived materials to other, more sustainable approaches, there is a growing interest in bio-origin and biodegradable polymers. In search of bio-degradable electro-mechanically active materials, cellulose-multi wall carbon nanotube (Cell-CNT) composites are a focus for the development of actuators and sensors. In the current study, our aim was to fabricate Cell-CNT composite fibers and study their electro-mechanical response as linear actuators in aqueous and propylene carbonate-based electrolyte solutions. While the response was (expectedly) strongly solvent dependent, the different solvents also revealed unexpected phenomena. Cell-CNT fibers in propylene carbonate revealed a strong back-relaxation process at low frequencies, and also a frequency dependent response direction change (change of actuation direction). Cell-CNT fibers operated in aqueous electrolyte showed response typical to electrochemical capacitors including expansion at discharging with controllable actuation dependence on charge density. While the response was similarly stable in both electrolyte solution systems, the aqueous electrolytes were clearly favorable for Cell-CNT with 3.4 times higher conductivities, 4.3 times higher charge densities and 11 times higher strain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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17 pages, 8546 KiB  
Article
Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Polyethylene-Based Composites Filled with Micrometric Aluminum Powder
by Olga Mysiukiewicz, Paulina Kosmela, Mateusz Barczewski and Aleksander Hejna
Materials 2020, 13(5), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051242 - 9 Mar 2020
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3513
Abstract
Investigations related to polymer/metal composites are often limited to the analysis of the electrical and thermal conductivity of the materials. The presented study aims to analyze the impact of aluminum (Al) filler content (from 1 to 20 wt%) on the rarely investigated properties [...] Read more.
Investigations related to polymer/metal composites are often limited to the analysis of the electrical and thermal conductivity of the materials. The presented study aims to analyze the impact of aluminum (Al) filler content (from 1 to 20 wt%) on the rarely investigated properties of composites based on the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. The crystalline structure, rheological (melt flow index and oscillatory rheometry), thermal (differential scanning calorimetry), as well as static (tensile tests, hardness, rebound resilience) and dynamic (dynamical mechanical analysis) mechanical properties of composites were investigated. The incorporation of 1 and 2 wt% of aluminum filler resulted in small enhancements of mechanical properties, while loadings of 5 and 10 wt% provided materials with a similar performance to neat HDPE. Such results were supported by the lack of disturbances in the rheological behavior of composites. The presented results indicate that a significant content of aluminum filler may be introduced into the HDPE matrix without additional pre-treatment and does not cause the deterioration of composites’ performance, which should be considered beneficial when engineering PE/metal composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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13 pages, 3734 KiB  
Article
Printed PEDOT:PSS Trilayer: Mechanism Evaluation and Application in Energy Storage
by Inga Põldsalu, Kätlin Rohtlaid, Cedric Plesse, Frédéric Vidal, Ngoc Tuan Nguyen, Anna-Liisa Peikolainen, Tarmo Tamm and Rudolf Kiefer
Materials 2020, 13(2), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13020491 - 20 Jan 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2729
Abstract
Combining ink-jet printing and one of the most stable electroactive materials, PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)), is envisaged to pave the way for the mass production of soft electroactive materials. Despite its being a well-known electroactive material, widespread application of PEDOT:PSS also requires good understanding [...] Read more.
Combining ink-jet printing and one of the most stable electroactive materials, PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)), is envisaged to pave the way for the mass production of soft electroactive materials. Despite its being a well-known electroactive material, widespread application of PEDOT:PSS also requires good understanding of its response. However, agreement on the interpretation of the material’s activities, notably regarding actuation, is not unanimous. Our goal in this work is to study the behavior of trilayers with PEDOT:PSS electrodes printed on either side of a semi-interpenetrated polymer network membrane in propylene carbonate solutions of three different electrolytes, and to compare their electroactive, actuation, and energy storage behavior. The balance of apparent faradaic and non-faradaic processes in each case is discussed. The results show that the primarily cation-dominated response of the trilayers in the three electrolytes is actually remarkably different, with some rather uncommon outcomes. The different balance of the apparent charging mechanisms makes it possible to clearly select one electrolyte for potential actuation and another for energy storage application scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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16 pages, 5661 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Ethylenediamine-Polyurea Microcapsule Epoxy Self-Healing Coating
by Yanxuan Ma, Yingrui Zhang, Jiatong Liu, Yi Sun, Yajie Ge, Xiaoning Yan and Jian Wu
Materials 2020, 13(2), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13020326 - 10 Jan 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3329
Abstract
Polyurea microcapsules with Ethylenediamine (EDA) as the core material were synthesized. A set of characterization methods, including optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM and SEM), the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to confirm the microcapsule morphology and [...] Read more.
Polyurea microcapsules with Ethylenediamine (EDA) as the core material were synthesized. A set of characterization methods, including optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM and SEM), the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to confirm the microcapsule morphology and chemical structures. The influence of emulsifier content and stirring rate on size and morphology of the microcapsules was investigated, and the self-healing performance of EDA-Polyurea microcapsule/epoxy coatings was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The results showed that the microcapsules obtained had good spherical shape with a mean diameter of 0.54–0.70 μm. Compared with pure core material, the microcapsule showed excellent thermostability, and the content of core materials was up to 56.00 wt%. The epoxy coating with 5.0 wt% EDA-Polyurea microcapsules achieved average corrosion resistance efficiencies of 90.00%, significantly enhancing the capability of the scratched coating to resist external corrosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Development and Functionality)
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