Advances in Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Applications

A special issue of Eng (ISSN 2673-4117). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1283

Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Science Department, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Interests: materials science; polymers; nanocomposite; materials synthesis and characterizations; nanoparticle synthesis for drug delivery; wastewater treatment; renewable energy; solar cells and thin films fabrications; hydrogen generation and storage; atomic layer deposition (ALD) research and innovations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Advances in Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Applications", aims to bring together pioneering research and recent advancements in the field of polymer-based nanocomposites, with a focus on their design, synthesis, characterization, and wide-ranging applications. As the demand for lightweight, durable, and functionally diverse materials grows, polymer nanocomposites have emerged as a key class of materials capable of meeting the multifunctional needs of modern technologies.

This Special Issue seeks to explore the integration of nanostructured fillers, such as carbon-based nanomaterials, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, and hybrid nanostructures, into polymer matrices to enhance mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and barrier properties. The aim is to highlight interdisciplinary approaches that address both fundamental and applied challenges in developing next-generation materials for sectors such as energy storage, flexible electronics, structural composites, environmental remediation, and biomedical devices.

Despite considerable progress, the field continues to face significant challenges. These include poor filler dispersion, weak interfacial interactions, the scalability of processing techniques, and the limited understanding of structure–property relationships at the nanoscale. The Special Issue welcomes contributions that address these issues through novel synthesis methods, interface engineering, predictive modeling, and advanced characterization techniques.

Emerging research directions such as self-healing materials, stimuli-responsive composites, recyclable and sustainable nanocomposites, and bio-based polymer systems are particularly encouraged. Papers that offer insights into lifecycle analysis, performance optimization, and real-world application case studies will also be of great interest.

By showcasing innovative research and fostering dialogue across disciplines, this Special Issue aims to advance the field of polymer nanocomposites toward new levels of performance and sustainability, ultimately enabling multifunctional applications that meet the technological and environmental demands of the future.

Dr. Patrick Ehi Imoisili
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 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. Eng 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 1400 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 nanocomposites
  • multifunctional materials
  • nanofillers
  • mechanical properties
  • thermal properties
  • electrical conductivity
  • interface engineering
  • sustainable composites
  • smart materials
  • bio-based polymers
  • hybrid nanostructures
  • advanced characterization
  • structure–property relationships
  • energy applications
  • biomedical applications
  • environmental remediation
  • stimuli-responsive materials
  • recyclable composites
  • self-healing materials
  • nanotechnology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 4471 KB  
Article
Residual Strength of Adhesively Bonded Joints Under High-Velocity Impact: Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Impact-Induced Degradation
by Ferhat Kadioglu, Murat Demiral and Ali Mamedov
Eng 2026, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng7010001 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 886
Abstract
Adhesively bonded joints are extensively utilized in structural assemblies involving metals, composites, and hybrid materials due to their favorable mechanical and manufacturing characteristics. However, their performance under high-velocity impacts—common in aerospace, automotive, and defense applications—remains insufficiently understood. This work investigates the high-velocity performance [...] Read more.
Adhesively bonded joints are extensively utilized in structural assemblies involving metals, composites, and hybrid materials due to their favorable mechanical and manufacturing characteristics. However, their performance under high-velocity impacts—common in aerospace, automotive, and defense applications—remains insufficiently understood. This work investigates the high-velocity performance and subsequent tensile response of adhesively bonded single-lap joints (SLJs) by integrating experimental testing with numerical simulations. High-velocity impacts were applied to SLJs fabricated from 4 mm aluminum adherends with overlap lengths of 15 mm and 25 mm, using a 1.25 g projectile at 288 m/s, followed by quasi-static tensile assessment. Experimental findings revealed substantial degradation in tensile strength for the 15 mm overlap configuration (reduced the load-bearing capacity by about 33% (from ~12 kN to ~8 kN)), while the 25 mm overlap retained its structural integrity. Finite element simulations conducted in ABAQUS 2021 employed the Johnson–Cook constitutive model for the adherends and a cohesive zone model for the adhesive layer, successfully replicating damage evolution and stress distributions. The results highlight the critical role of geometric parameters—particularly overlap length and adherend thickness—in determining the damage tolerance and residual load-bearing capacity of SLJs subjected to high-velocity impacts. These insights contribute to the development of more robust bonded joint designs for impact-prone environments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop