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Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to the Special Issue on "Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials". As the demand for innovative materials with enhanced properties continues to grow, the scientific community plays a key role in advancing the understanding and development of composite and hybrid materials. This Special Issue aims to explore recent research centred around advanced composites and hybrid materials, addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie at the intersection of various disciplines.

The aim is to collate researchers and experts in the field of composite materials, showcasing their latest findings and advancements. We aim to create a comprehensive collection of articles encompassing the diverse aspects of advanced composite and hybrid materials, bridging the gap between theory and application and fostering a deeper understanding of these materials and their potential across various industries.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Phase-field models of composite materials, including metal–matrix composites;
Structural analyses of composite laminates and sandwiches;
Composites in MEMS and NEMS;
Nonlocal analysis of composites;
Experimental analysis of composites at different scales, from nano to large scales;
Innovative fabrication techniques for advanced composites;
Multiscale modeling and simulation of composite materials;
Characterization and testing of hybrid materials;
Sustainable composite materials.

Dr. Hossein Darban
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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

composite materials
fabrication
sustainability
experimentation
phase-field modeling
structural theories
MEMS & NEMS
nanonlocal analytsis
small-scale testing
multiscale modeling
interphase

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Durability of Wood Strand-Based Panels Using Guayule

by Edward D. Entsminger, Mostafa Mohammadabadi, C. Elizabeth Stokes and Suman Pradhan

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4535; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114535 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 205

Abstract

In this study, the most effective application method of guayule resin and its effects on termite and fungal decay biological performances of wood strand-based (WSB) panels were explored. Southern yellow pine (Pinus spp. L.) wood strands were mixed with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin to a target resin content of 5.00% and hot-pressed to manufacture the control WSB panels. For the in-situ process, a guayule resin solution was prepared and sprayed on the wood strands immediately after spraying the PF resin to a target content of 5.00%. For brushing and spraying methods, a sub-set of the control panel specimens were further brushed or sprayed with guayule resin solution on all surfaces. To understand the effects of guayule on durability, specimens cut from control and treated panels were subjected to termite resistance and fungal degradation soil block tests. The in-situ specimens with 5.00% guayule were subjected to tensile, internal bond, water absorption, and thickness swelling tests to find out whether guayule affects the mechanical performance of WSB panels. The results showed that in-situ treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the mechanical properties of wood stand-based panels. The sprayed technique resulted in more durable panels, as the mass loss was 2.21% for termites and 3.24% for fungi specimens, which decreased by 76.66% and 80.86%, respectively, when compared to the WSB controls. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials)

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15 pages, 8106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tribological Performance Study of Low-Friction PEEK Composites under Different Lubrication Conditions

by Shibo Wu, Zhijun Yan, Haocheng Sun, Ze Liu, Lixia Xue and Tao Sun

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3723; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093723 - 27 Apr 2024

Viewed by 378

Abstract

This study introduces a low-friction composite based on PEEK to improve its friction and wear properties. The composite incorporates PTFE as a solid lubricant and utilizes PPTA as a reinforcing material within the PEEK matrix. These components were prepared utilizing a compression molding method, followed by a series of exploratory experiments to identify the optimal preparation conditions for PEEK. This research assesses how the PTFE/PPTA/PEEK composites perform in terms of friction and wear under dry and oil-lubricated conditions. By examining wear tracks using scanning electron microscopy and white light interference microscopy, this study aims to uncover the wear mechanisms of PEEK and its composites under different lubrication scenarios. Results show that the main wear mechanisms for the PTFE/PPTA/PEEK composites and bearing steel are ploughing and adhesive wear. The presence of PPTA helps reduce wear by leveraging its strong fibers and thermal stability, while the coefficient of friction decreases as PTFE creates a smooth, solid lubricating film on the surface. Notably, PEEK composites containing 25 wt% PTFE and 6 wt% PPTA demonstrate the lowest wear rates and reduced coefficient of friction in both dry and oil-lubricated conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials)

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