Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Degradable Polymers: Roles of Curing, Crystallization and Biodegradation
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 3
Special Issue Editors
Interests: new polymer materials; functional polymer materials; functional separation membranes; medical polymer materials; liquid crystal polymer materials; rubber; plastics; material structure; mechanical properties; electrical conductivity; friction properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Analysis and Testing Center, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
Interests: polymers; polymer structure and properties; physical and mechanical properties; friction properties; electrical conductivity; rubber; plastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The development of advanced degradable polymers requires a synergistic understanding of synthesis, characterization, and the interplay between curing, crystallization, and biodegradation. These processes collectively determine the structural integrity, functional performance, and environmental sustainability of polymeric materials.
Curing, as a critical crosslinking step, enhances mechanical stability and chemical resistance, ensuring that degradable polymers maintain their functionality during their intended lifespan. While biodegradation is central to sustainability, curing provides the necessary structural robustness to balance durability with controlled degradation. Crystallization governs thermal and mechanical properties by modulating the arrangement of polymer chains. Optimizing the amorphous–crystalline ratio is essential for tailoring degradable polymers to applications such as medical implants or transient electronics, where both strength and predictable degradation kinetics are vital. Biodegradation addresses environmental concerns by enabling materials to break down under specific conditions, yet its efficiency depends on the initial molecular design influenced by curing and crystallization.
This Special Issue emphasizes the interconnected roles of these processes in designing degradable polymers. We seek contributions that explore the following:
- Novel synthesis and characterization methods for degradable systems;
- Fundamental insights into curing mechanisms and their impact on degradation pathways;
- Strategies to harmonize crystallization with biodegradation for performance optimization;
- Applications in eco-friendly coatings, biomedical devices, and sustainable electronics.
Manuscripts (full papers, reviews, and communications) bridging fundamental research and practical applications are particularly encouraged.
Prof. Dr. Chuansheng Wang
Dr. Deshang Han
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- degradable polymers
- polymer synthesis
- curing mechanisms
- crystallization control
- biodegradation kinetics
- crosslinking
- sustainable materials
- eco-design
- structure–property relationships
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