Gel-Based Materials Under Impact Effects: Dynamic Behavior and Protective Application

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid development in polymer science has led to the wide application of gel-based materials in the field of impact protection. At the forefront of this revolution, gel-based materials—including hydrogels, organogels, soft elastomers and their myriad composites—promote a transformative shift from rigid, passive patterns towards soft, intelligent and adaptive systems. These materials possess unique properties under impact loading, such as dramatic shear-stiffening, self-healing, and stimuli-responsive characteristic change, which make them exceptionally suitable for mitigating dynamic and high strain rate effects. This Special Issue aims to compile a comprehensive volume that explores the dynamic mechanisms of these gel-based materials under extreme loading conditions and their applicable potential in next-generation protective technologies. It serves as a critical platform for researchers working in the fields of polymer chemistry, mechanics and material engineering.

This Special Issue covers a wide range of topics, organized into the following key areas:

• Material design and synthesis: coverage of novel gel formulations optimized for impact resistance, self-repair, and environmental stability.
• Dynamic behavior analysis: in-depth studies on impact-induced mechanisms such as strain rate-dependent characteristics, viscoelastic energy dissipation, and damage evolution, using advanced characterization techniques.
• Protective applications across domains: an exploration of real-world implementations such as ballistic and blast protection, biomedical and sports safety and industrial and aerospace uses.

Merging fundamental insights into dynamic behavior with practicable designs for real-world challenges, this Special Issue will feature a few exemplary papers to exhibit the versatility and potential of gel-based materials in impact protection. We hope these topics will inspire more efforts and innovations in related fields.

Prof. Dr. Yanpeng Wei
Dr. Xiangzhao Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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