Submit to Applied Sciences Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Related Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 11562

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Evangelia Tarani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
2. Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece
Interests: sustainable material science; sustainable composites; thermal properties; crystallization; degradation; kinetics; structural characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Chrissafis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices, Physics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: electronic properties of semiconductors; devices; thermal analysis of materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing interest in innovative and high-performance materials has made composite materials an interesting object of research because of their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and wide range of applications (aerospace, automotive, electronics, constructions, packaging, medical devices, etc.). On the one hand, many studies are devoted to the exploration of new high-cost techniques for the production of composite materials. On the other hand, other studies are concerned with optimizing processes for existing techniques in order to obtain high-performance, yet lightweight, materials.

This Special Issue will focus on polymer composite materials, innovative technologies, and manufacturing processes. Contributions may relate to conventional or unconventional processes and may highlight novel aspects of processing and manufacturing methods, coating technologies, fiber treatments, and materials that can be used to produce cost-effective and eco-friendly materials. Topics may include their mechanical, thermal, microstructural, and morphological properties and modeling. Submissions on related topics are welcome, including bioplastics and microplastics, as well as their synthesis, characterization, and their applications. This Issue will also accept state-of-the-art reviews on different composite materials by highlighting the range of applications for polymeric materials.

Dr. Evangelia Tarani
Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Chrissafis
Guest Editors

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

composites
nanocomposites
advanced materials
polymers
manufacturing technology
nanotechnology
nanoparticles
additive technology
recycling technology
structural adhesives and composites
fillers
fibers
adhesive resins
thermal properties
mechanical properties
electrical properties
modeling

Related Special Issue

Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition in Applied Sciences (1 article)

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

17 pages, 16061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermoelectric Properties of Polyaniline/Bismuth Antimony Telluride Composite Materials Prepared via Mechanical Mixing

by Savvas Hadjipanteli, Panagiotis S. Ioannou, Theodora Krasia-Christoforou and Theodora Kyratsi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9757; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179757 - 29 Aug 2023

Viewed by 995

Abstract

Organic-based thermoelectric composites are highly promising for low-temperature heat-to-electrical energy conversion applications due to their low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, facile synthesis and easy processing. Potential applications of such materials include, among others, low-temperature waste heat recovery and body heat use, such as wearable thermoelectric devices and sensors. Due to the lack of studies on organic (matrix)–inorganic (additive) thermoelectric composites prepared via mechanical mixing with respect to the processing parameters and thermoelectric performance, this work aims to contribute in this direction. More precisely, composite pellets were prepared starting from polyaniline (PANI)/bismuth antimony telluride mixed powders using a mechanical press. The processing parameters investigated included temperature, pressure and processing time, along with the inorganic additive (bismuth antimony telluride) content introduced within the composites. The experimental data revealed that the processing temperature and the additive content had the most significant effect, since their increase led to an enhancement in the composites’ thermoelectric performance. The optimal ZT (2.93 × 10⁻³) recorded at 130

^{\circ}

C corresponded to PANI-BST composites with a 30 wt.% BST content, prepared at a processing temperature of 80

^{\circ}

C, a processing time of 75 min and under 2 tons of pressure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Facile Method to Prepare Superhydrophobic Coatings for Various Substrates

by Yuxuan Zhang, Shuwen Zhou, Zaosheng Lv, Lixia Fan, Yanfen Huang and Xuegang Liu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031240 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1969

Abstract

In this study, the superhydrophobic composite coatings for self-cleaning were fabricated by mixing fluorine resin and two kinds of nanoparticles of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and SiO₂. When the mass ratio of CNTs to SiO₂ is 2:3 and the added amount of nanoparticles is 75 wt. %, the superhydrophobic composite coatings with a water contact angle of 156.8° show the best self-cleaning property and 3.6° of contact angle hysteresis. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic composite coatings demonstrate good properties such as chemical resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical stability. The superhydrophobic composite coatings could be used for oil/water separation and could be applied to various substrate surfaces such as glass plates, cloth, board, steel plate, PVC plate, and so on. The superhydrophobic composite coatings show practical value in many fields because of their low cost and large area preparation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 46424 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Silica Nanoparticles Silanized by Functional/Functional or Functional/Non-Functional Silanes on the Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Dental Nanocomposite Resins

by Stefanos Karkanis, Alexandros K. Nikolaidis, Elisabeth A. Koulaouzidou and Dimitris S. Achilias

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010159 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3515

Abstract

Dental nanocomposite resins have been proposed as potential restorative materials that are inevitably challenged with dynamic oral conditions. This investigation focused on the contribution of miscellaneous silane blends, used as coupling agents, to the ultimate performance of dental nanocomposite dimethacrylate resins. Herein, silica nanoparticles were initially silanized with functional/functional or functional/non-fuctional silane mixtures (50/50 wt/wt). Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) verified the modification of nanosilica. The organomodified nanoparticles were then inserted into Bis-GMA/TEGDMA based resins by hand spatulation process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) findings revealed a broad distribution of fillers in the polymer network when reactive silanes and their corresponding blends were used. Furthermore, optical profilometry results showed that the presence of functional/non-functional mixtures can produce relatively smooth composite surfaces. Polymerization shrinkage was found to be limited upon the decrease of the degree of conversion regarding all the tested silane mixtures. The functional/functional silane blend assured the highest flexural properties and the lowest solubility after the storage of the nanocomposite in water for 1 week at 37 °C. The above experimental data could contribute to the proper designing of dental nanocomposite resins which may fit the modern clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 4983 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of Budesonide with Enhanced Bioavailability for COPD Treatment

by Georgia Michailidou, George Z. Papageorgiou and Dimitrios N. Bikiaris

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 12085; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112412085 - 18 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening disease of the respiratory system, affecting many patients worldwide. Budesonide (BUD), a synthetic glucocorticosteroid applied for the treatment of COPD patients, is a hydrophobic compound with low bioavailability. The formation of inclusion complexes of hydrophobic compounds with β-cyclodextrin (CD) through the solvent evaporation technique is an appealing method for the amelioration of the compounds’ in vitro release behavior. In the present study, CD–BUD complexes were prepared through the solvent evaporation technique. The effect of the applied solvent was evaluated through FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and in vitro release behavior measurements. It was found that the optimum complexes with the minimum degree of crystallinity and the optimum in vitro release behavior are prepared in the solvent ratio H₂O/EtOH 80/20 v/v. In a further step, the formation of CD–BUD complexes containing different amounts of BUD was prepared. Through XRD measurements, the degree of crystallinity of the samples was calculated confirming the diminished crystallinity of BUD in CD complexes. The in vitro release of the samples showed the improved release behavior of BUD from the complexes in comparison to neat BUD while a direct correlation between the degree of crystallinity and in vitro release behavior was demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 3927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Improved Mechanical Properties of Ball-Milled GNPs Reinforced Short Chain Branched-Polyethylene Nanocomposite: Micromechanical Modeling and Fractography Study

by Dimitra Kourtidou, Konstantinos Tsongas, Maria-Eirini Grigora, Dimitrios Tzetzis, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris and Konstantinos Chrissafis

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9420; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209420 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1354

Abstract

Short-chain branched-Polyethylene (SCB-PE) is commonly utilized in hot and cold piping systems due to its high-temperature resistance. SCB-PE nanocomposites using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as a reinforcing filler were synthesized in this work. The effect of the filler’s content and the ball-milling process on nanocomposites’ structure, tensile and shear properties was studied. Two series of nanocomposites have been prepared, one with and one without the ball-milling as a premixing step prior to the melt-mixing process. The ball-milling process induced a lower crystallinity degree of the SCB-PE nanocomposites than their solely melt-mixed counterpart. The tensile properties of the ball-milled samples presented a more profound enhancement with increasing filler content. The Ji and modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanical models were best fit to describe the experimental elastic modulus of the solely melt-mixed and the ball-milled nanocomposites, respectively. Fractography studies suggested that the detachment of the filler particles from the polymer matrix is avoided for lower GNPs contents of the ball-milled samples. Shear tests revealed that the shear strength increased and ductility decreased with increasing filler content in any case. The ball-milling process resulted in SCB-PE nanocomposites with superior mechanical properties compared to their solely melt-mixed counterparts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials)

► Show Figures