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New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites
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New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 5623

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Magdalena Maciejewska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
Interests: elastomer composites; application of ionic liquids in polymers; vulcanization of elastomers; crosslinking agents and fillers for polymers; thermal analysis of polymeric materials and additives for polymer composites; elimination of allergenic compounds from rubber products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Elastomer materials are an integral part of our everyday life. They surround us at our homes, in means of transport, workplaces, schools, and hospitals. Generally, they result from the vulcanization process of elastomer composites. However, the development of advanced technologies forces producers to manufacture elastomer composites with incresingly sophisticated functional properties. No less important are the ecological aspects of the production process and the disposal of rubber products. Thus, in recent years, elastomer materials have been one of the most popular and fastest-developing engineering materials in the world. Both scientists and engineers have become increasingly interested in advanced elastomer materials and their composites which, due to the appropriate selection of an elastomer matrix or the use of special additives and manufacturing technology, are characterized by exceptional properties, including previously unattainable mechanical strength; unique thermal, chemical, electrical, and biological properties, biodegradability; and self-healing properties, among others. Therefore, this Special Issue concerns all aspects related to recent progress in the preparation of advanced elastomer materials and elastomer composites, their characterization, devulcanization, as well as broadly understood technological applications.

I kindly invite all researchers interested in elastomer materials and its composites to submit a manuscript(s) to this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Magdalena Maciejewska
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 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. Materials 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 2600 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

  • elastomer composites
  • vulcanization
  • devulcanization
  • fillers
  • anti-aging agents
  • mechanical performance
  • thermal properties
  • biodegradability
  • self-healing properties
  • electrical properties.

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 7346 KiB  
Article
Mitigation of Fiber Print-Through During Replication of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Mirrors
by Yuanpeng Fan, Lei Wei, Jian Pei and Lin Li
Materials 2025, 18(3), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030617 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 650
Abstract
Aiming at the phenomenon of fiber print-through (FPT) during the curing process of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) mirrors, this paper effectively mitigates FPT by improving the replication technique. This paper simulates and analyzes the causes of FPT generation and then improves the replication [...] Read more.
Aiming at the phenomenon of fiber print-through (FPT) during the curing process of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) mirrors, this paper effectively mitigates FPT by improving the replication technique. This paper simulates and analyzes the causes of FPT generation and then improves the replication technique based on multiple explorations of the replication process. In the improved replication technique, a mold is designed to assist in the curing process of the mirrors and to further suppress the FPT on the surface by applying pressure during the curing process. In addition, the layup method, resin matrix, and curing equipment are also optimized and improved. The surface roughness of the CFRP mirrors before and after the process improvement is measured using an optical surface profilometer, and the roughness parameters such as the arithmetic average deviation, root mean square error, and maximum height are obtained. Measurement results show that the improved replication technique effectively mitigates FPT, the surface of the obtained CFRP mirror is smoother, and the application of pressure during curing can further reduce the roughness of the mirror surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites)
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15 pages, 2239 KiB  
Article
Elastomeric Compositions of Ethylene–Norbornene Copolymer Containing Biofillers Based on Coffee and Tea Waste
by Aneta Malicka, Kamila Rułka, Malgorzata Latos-Brozio and Anna Masek
Materials 2024, 17(16), 4160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164160 - 22 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 979
Abstract
The development of eco-friendly elastomeric materials has become an important issue in recent years. In this work, thermoplastic elastomer samples of an ethylene–norbornene copolymer (EN) with coffee and tea biofillers mixed with typical fillers such as montmorillonite (MMT), silica (SiO2), and [...] Read more.
The development of eco-friendly elastomeric materials has become an important issue in recent years. In this work, thermoplastic elastomer samples of an ethylene–norbornene copolymer (EN) with coffee and tea biofillers mixed with typical fillers such as montmorillonite (MMT), silica (SiO2), and cellulose were investigated. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of fillers on the properties of the materials and to assess their degradability after two ultraviolet (UV) aging cycles (200, 400 h). The scientific novelty of this work is the assessment of the anti-aging effect of simultaneous biofillers–stabilizers based on coffee and tea waste. The surfaces of the obtained polymer compositions were examined using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). Contact angles were determined, and surface energy was calculated. The mechanical properties were tested, and the influence of plant fillers and aging on the color change in the materials was analyzed. The combination of coffee with silica, MMT, and cellulose fillers limited the migration of fatty acids and other compounds from the biofiller to the EN surface (FTIR analysis). Based on the aging coefficients K, it was shown that all coffee- and tea-based fillers stabilized the polymer compositions during UV aging (400 h). The results allowed the authors to determine the importance and impact of waste plant fillers on the degradability of the synthetic EN. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites)
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19 pages, 6640 KiB  
Article
Hydroxyapatite-Filled Acrylonitrile–Butadiene Rubber Composites with Improved Cure Characteristics and Reduced Flammability
by Magdalena Maciejewska, Przemysław Rybiński and Anna Sowińska-Baranowska
Materials 2024, 17(15), 3718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153718 - 27 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1014
Abstract
The goal of this work was to develop acrylonitrile–butadiene (NBR) elastomer composites filled with hydroxyapatite (HAP) characterized by improved cure characteristics and resistance to burning. Silane, i.e., (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane, ionic liquid, i.e., 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and surfactant, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, were used to improve the [...] Read more.
The goal of this work was to develop acrylonitrile–butadiene (NBR) elastomer composites filled with hydroxyapatite (HAP) characterized by improved cure characteristics and resistance to burning. Silane, i.e., (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane, ionic liquid, i.e., 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and surfactant, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, were used to improve the filler’s dispersibility in the elastomer matrix and to reduce the time and temperature of vulcanization. The effects of HAP and dispersants on the cure characteristics, crosslink density and physico–chemical properties of NBR composites were explored. The additives used, especially the ionic liquid and surfactant, effectively improved the dispersion of HAP in the NBR matrix. The amount of HAP and the dispersant used strongly affected the cure characteristics and crosslink density of NBR. The optimal vulcanization time significantly increased with HAP content and was pronouncedly reduced when ionic liquid and surfactant were applied. In addition, ionic liquid and surfactant significantly lowered the onset vulcanization temperature and improved the crosslink density and hardness of the vulcanizates while impairing their elasticity. HAP and dispersants did not significantly affect the damping properties or chemical resistance of NBR vulcanizates. Above all, application of HAP considerably enhanced the resistance of vulcanizates to thermo-oxidative aging and reduced their flammability compared with the unfilled NBR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites)
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18 pages, 6410 KiB  
Article
Flammability, Toxicity, and Microbiological Properties of Polyurethane Flexible Foams
by Arkadiusz Głowacki, Przemysław Rybiński, Grzegorz Czerwonka, Witold Żukowski, Ulugbek Zakirovich Mirkhodjaev and Monika Żelezik
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143517 - 16 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1257
Abstract
The aim of the research was to investigate the influence of calcium phosphinate (HPCA) and aluminum phosphinate (HPAL) in synergistic systems with organophosphorus compounds, i.e., diphenylcresyl phosphate (CDP) and trichloropropyl phosphate (TCPP), on the thermal stability, flammability, smoke density, and emission of toxic [...] Read more.
The aim of the research was to investigate the influence of calcium phosphinate (HPCA) and aluminum phosphinate (HPAL) in synergistic systems with organophosphorus compounds, i.e., diphenylcresyl phosphate (CDP) and trichloropropyl phosphate (TCPP), on the thermal stability, flammability, smoke density, and emission of toxic gases during the thermal decomposition of polyurethane (PUR) foams. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), along with cone calorimetry and microcalorimetry, were used to assess the influence of fillers on the thermal stability and flammability of PUR foams. The analysis of toxic gas products was performed with the use of a coupled TG–gas analyzer system. The optical density of gases was measured with the use of a smoke density chamber (SDC). The obtained results showed an increase in thermal stability and a decrease in the flammability of the PUR composites. However, the results regarding smoke and gas emissions, as well as toxic combustion by-products, present ambiguity. On one hand, the applied flame retardant systems in the form of PUR-HPCA-CDP and PUR-HPCA-TCPP led to a reduction in the concentration of CO and HCN in the gas by-products. On the other hand, they clearly increased the concentration of CO2, NOx, and smoke emissions. Microbiological studies indicated that the obtained foam material is completely safe for use and does not exhibit biocidal properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites)
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18 pages, 4568 KiB  
Article
Ecologically Modified Leather of Bacterial Origin
by Dawid Lisowski, Stanisław Bielecki, Stefan Cichosz and Anna Masek
Materials 2024, 17(11), 2783; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112783 - 6 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1219
Abstract
The research presented here is an attempt to develop an innovative and environmentally friendly material based on bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), which will be able to replace both animal skins and synthetic polymer products. Bacterial nanocellulose becomes stiff and brittle when dried, so attempts [...] Read more.
The research presented here is an attempt to develop an innovative and environmentally friendly material based on bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), which will be able to replace both animal skins and synthetic polymer products. Bacterial nanocellulose becomes stiff and brittle when dried, so attempts have been made to plasticise this material so that BNC can be used in industry. The research presented here focuses on the ecological modification of bacterial nanocellulose with vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, linseed oil, and grape seed oil. The effect of compatibilisers of a natural origin on the plasticisation process of BNC, such as chlorophyll, curcumin, and L-glutamine, was also evaluated. BNC samples were modified with rapeseed, linseed, and grapeseed oils, as well as mixtures of each of these oils with the previously mentioned additives. The modification was carried out by passing the oil, or oil mixture, through the BNC using vacuum filtration, where the BNC acted as a filter. The following tests were performed to determine the effect of the modification on the BNC: FTIR spectroscopic analysis, contact angle measurements, and static mechanical analysis. As a result of the modification, the BNC was plasticised. Rapeseed oil proved to be the best for this purpose, with the help of which a material with good strength and elasticity was obtained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Elastomer Materials and Its Composites)
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