Structural and Characterization of Composite Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The development of composite materials and related design and manufacturing technologies is one of the most crucial achievements in the history of materials. Composites are multifunctional materials that offer an extensive range of applications, with unprecedented mechanical and physical properties that can be adapted to the requirements of a specific application. Many composite materials are also highly resistant to wear, corrosion and high temperatures. These unique features provide mechanical engineers with design capabilities that are not possible with conventional materials. Composite technology also enables the utilization of an entire class of solid materials, such as ceramics, in applications for which monolithic versions are not suitable; this is due to the large dispersion of strength and their poor resistance to mechanical and thermal shocks. The manufacturing processes for composite materials are well suited to producing large, complex structures; this enables parts to be consolidated, and thus reduces production costs. Composites are materials that are now widely employed not only in the aerospace industry, but also in a large and growing number of commercial mechanical engineering applications. These include the following: internal combustion engines; machine elements; thermal management and electronic packaging; dimensionally stable components; automotive, railway and aircraft structures and mechanical components such as brakes, drive shafts, flywheels, tanks and pressure vessels; equipment for the process industry requiring resistance to high-temperature corrosion, oxidation and wear; sports and recreational equipment; marine structures; ships and boats. The possibility of modifying these materials and their extensive applicative potential allow scientists around the world to develop novel structures and thus obtain completely new physical and strength-related properties.

This Special Issue of the journal Crystals, entitled “Structural and Characterization of Composite Materials”, focuses on the structural properties and characterization of composite materials. The matters discussed in this Special Issue will focus on novel materials and their physical and strength-related parameters. As Guest Editor, I invite you to submit contributions to this Special Issue. Contributions that present interdisciplinary approaches to the preparation of novel forms of composites and the exploration of their properties are encouraged.

Dr. Katarzyna Panasiuk
Dr. Sebastian Sławski
Dr. Karolina Ewelina Mazur
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2100 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.