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J. Compos. Sci.
Special Issues
Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties
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Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fiber Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 3636

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ping Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
2. Laboratory of Engineering, Computer Science and Imaging Sciences, University of Strasbourg, F-67081 Strasbourg, France
Interests: mechanics of composite materials; 3D printing; design and manufacturing of composites; FEM
Dr. Qihao Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: continuous fiber-reinforced composites; manufacturing process; damage mechanics; removal mechanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Continuous fiber-reinforced composite materials (CFRCs) have attracted considerable attention across diverse industrial sectors, including aerospace and automotives, due to their outstanding mechanical properties, lightweight characteristics, and versatility.

This Special Issue aims to present a comprehensive compilation of research works focusing on the manufacturing processes, multiscale structures, and performance properties of CFRCs. Its scope encompasses, but is not limited to, studies on innovative fabrication and processing techniques, extensive testing of mechanical and functional properties, and detailed microstructural characterization.

Furthermore, we welcome contributions that employ predictive modeling and simulation tools to explore, optimize, and design the process–structure–property relationships of CFRCs. Research on topics such as automated manufacturing, non-destructive evaluation, damage analysis, and multi-scale modeling frameworks for CFRCs is strongly encouraged. The goal of this Special Issue is to bridge fundamental scientific research with industrial applications, emphasizing the collaborative efforts required to advance CFRC technology.

Dr. Ping Cheng
Dr. Qihao 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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Composites Science 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 1800 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

  • continuous fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs)
  • additive manufacturing
  • mechanical characterization
  • microstructural analysis
  • computational modeling
  • process–structure–property relationships
  • non-destructive testing
  • performance optimization

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 1682 KB  
Article
Structural, Barrier, and Mechanical Enhancement of Pectin–Alginate Biocomposite Films Reinforced with Alkali-Treated Rice-Husk Fiber
by Beatriz Timoteo-Cruz, Raymundo Sánchez-Orozco, José J. García-Sánchez, Carlos M. Cruz-Segundo, Lina A. Bernal-Martínez and Salomon R. Vasquez-Garcia
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(3), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10030169 - 20 Mar 2026
Viewed by 651
Abstract
In this study, rice-husk fiber (RHF) extracted via alkali hydrolysis was used as a reinforcing material (0–10 wt%) in a pectin-sodium alginate (PE/SA) matrix to develop biofilms by the casting method. These biofilms were characterized by using FTIR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. The [...] Read more.
In this study, rice-husk fiber (RHF) extracted via alkali hydrolysis was used as a reinforcing material (0–10 wt%) in a pectin-sodium alginate (PE/SA) matrix to develop biofilms by the casting method. These biofilms were characterized by using FTIR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. The thickness, moisture content, water solubility, swelling behavior, water-contact angle, water-vapor permeability, optical transparency, and mechanical properties of biofilms were investigated. It was observed that the PE/SA/RHF film loaded with 5% RHF had better visual attributes, and a further increase in reinforcement was not found to be as favorable. The addition of 10 wt% RHF significantly enhanced the thickness from 0.094 to 0.127 mm, water solubility from 49.25 to 56.13%, water-contact angle from 48.4 to 62.6°, and tensile strength from 4.17 to 10.23 MPa. However, decreases in water-vapor permeability from 1.94 × 10−9 to 1.32 × 10−9 g·m−1·Pa−1·s−1 and in elongation at break from 19.24 to 2.87% were observed in the biofilms. Structurally, FTIR confirmed intermolecular hydrogen bonding between components. XRD revealed that the films remained predominantly amorphous, without significant crystalline alterations. Furthermore, thermal stability improved with the addition of RHF. Finally, these PE/SA/RHF composite films may be potential eco-friendly biodegradable packaging candidates for food industry applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties)
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22 pages, 4661 KB  
Article
Investigation of Constant Shear Rate and Sample Configuration for Shear Characterization of a UHMWPE Unidirectional Cross-Ply Material System
by Kari D. White and James A. Sherwood
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(12), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9120685 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 542
Abstract
In-plane shear is the dominant deformation mode during thermoforming of fiber-reinforced composites, and accurate characterization of shear behavior is essential for reliable forming simulations. The present work investigates the shear response of a unidirectional cross-ply UHMWPE material system (DSM Dyneema® HB210) using [...] Read more.
In-plane shear is the dominant deformation mode during thermoforming of fiber-reinforced composites, and accurate characterization of shear behavior is essential for reliable forming simulations. The present work investigates the shear response of a unidirectional cross-ply UHMWPE material system (DSM Dyneema® HB210) using the picture-frame test, with emphasis on sample configuration, normalization methods, and shear rate effects. Three cruciform sample sizes were tested at 120 °C, along with a configuration in which cross-arm material was removed to isolate the gage region. Finite element analyses using LS-DYNA® were performed to evaluate the shear rate distribution during forming and to validate the experimental characterization. To maintain a constant shear rate during testing, a decreasing crosshead speed profile was implemented in the test software. Results showed that normalizing by the full specimen area yielded consistent shear stiffness curves across sample sizes, indicating that the arm region contributes equally to the load. Samples with cross-arm material removed exhibited greater scatter than those specimens without cross-arm material removed, confirming that preparation of cross-arm removal complicates repeatability. Rate dependence was observed at room temperature but not at elevated processing temperatures, suggesting that rate-dependent shear models are unnecessary for forming simulations of this material system. These findings provide a practical methodology for shear characterization of UHMWPE cross-ply laminates suitable for thermoforming analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties)
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23 pages, 3813 KB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Impregnation Methods for Polyimide-Based Prepregs: Insights from Industrial Perspective
by Biljana Kostadinoska, Blagoja Samakoski, Samoil Samak, Dijana Cvetkoska and Anka Trajkovska Petkoska
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(12), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9120651 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 958
Abstract
This study presents a comparative analysis of two industrially relevant technologies for manufacturing of prepreg composite materials based on polyimide (PI) resin: hot-melt and solvent-based technology. More specifically, the study focuses on evaluating the relationship between key processing parameters and the final properties [...] Read more.
This study presents a comparative analysis of two industrially relevant technologies for manufacturing of prepreg composite materials based on polyimide (PI) resin: hot-melt and solvent-based technology. More specifically, the study focuses on evaluating the relationship between key processing parameters and the final properties of the composite material manufactured with unidirectional (UD) C-fibers and woven fabrics used as reinforcement for both technologies. The impregnation process was carried out using a custom-designed coating equipment developed by Mikrosam D.O.O. Manufactured prepregs were characterized in terms of their resin content, volatile content, weight, width, and quality of the applied resin film. The hot-melt method that involves applying the resin in a semi-molten state with minimal solvent content provided a stable resin content (34–35%) and low volatiles (~1.2–1.5%) in the final product. The solvent-based method, using a resin/solvent ratio of 50:50, enabled deeper resin penetration into the fibers, particularly in woven fabrics (resin content: 34–37%) and lower residual volatiles (~0.3–0.5%). These results showed that the hot-melt technology consistently produced prepregs with very stable resin content, which is critical for structural applications requiring increased mechanical performance. In contrast, the solvent-based method demonstrated better adaptability to different reinforcement forms, improved impregnation depth, and excellent film uniformity, particularly suitable for woven fabrics. Representative SEM micrographs confirmed uniform resin distribution, full fiber wetting, and absence of voids, validating the impregnation quality obtained by both techniques. These findings highlight the technological relevance of selecting the appropriate impregnation route for each reinforcement architecture, offering direct guidance for industrial-scale composite manufacturing, where the hot-melt method is preferred for UD prepregs requiring precise resin control, while solvent-based impregnation ensures deeper and uniform resin distribution in woven fabric structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties)
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Review

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49 pages, 13564 KB  
Review
Cryogenic Performance and Modelling of Fibre- and Nano-Reinforced Composites: Failure Mechanisms, Toughening Strategies, and Constituent-Level Behaviour
by Feng Huang, Zhi Han, Mengfan Wei, Zhenpeng Gan, Yusi Wang, Xiaocheng Lu, Ge Yin, Ke Zhuang, Zhenming Zhang, Yuanzhi Gao, Yu Su, Xueli Sun and Ping Cheng
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10010036 - 8 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1129
Abstract
Composite materials are increasingly required to operate in cryogenic environments, including liquid hydrogen and oxygen storage, deep-space structures, and polar infrastructures, where long-term strength, toughness, and reliability are essential. This review provides a unique contribution by systematically integrating recent advances in understanding cryogenic [...] Read more.
Composite materials are increasingly required to operate in cryogenic environments, including liquid hydrogen and oxygen storage, deep-space structures, and polar infrastructures, where long-term strength, toughness, and reliability are essential. This review provides a unique contribution by systematically integrating recent advances in understanding cryogenic behaviour into a unified multi-scale framework. This framework synthesises four critical and interconnected aspects: constituent response, composite performance, enhancement mechanisms, and modelling strategies. At the constituent level, fibres retain stiffness, polymer matrices stiffen but embrittle, and nanoparticles offer tunable thermal and mechanical functions, which collectively define the system-level performance where thermal expansion mismatch, matrix embrittlement, and interfacial degradation dominate failure. The review further details toughening strategies achieved through nano-addition, hybrid fibre architectures, and thin-ply laminates. Modelling strategies, from molecular dynamics to multiscale finite element analysis, are discussed as predictive tools that link these scales, supported by the critical need for in situ experimental validation. The primary objective of this synthesis is to establish a coherent perspective that bridges fundamental material behaviour to structural reliability. Despite these advances, remaining challenges include consistent property characterisation at low temperature, physics-informed interface and damage models, and standardised testing protocols. Future progress will depend on integrated frameworks linking high-fidelity data, cross-scale modelling, and validation to enable safe deployment of next-generation cryogenic composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials: Processes, Structures and Properties)
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