Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
3.2
Journals
Materials
Special Issues
Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing...
materials-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Techniques

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 2289

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sakrit Hait

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
Interests: polymer; nanomaterials; advanced composites; recycling; sustainability
Dr. Miroslav Slouf

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic
Interests: polymer morphology; electron microscopy; micromechanical properties; UHMWPE for total joint replacements; biocompatible and/or biodegradable polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chungfu Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
Interests: polymer composites; mechanical properties; process-structure-property

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites are an advanced class of materials formed by combining polymers with various fillers to enhance and tailor their properties for a broad range of applications. These composites utilize the mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and/or other specific properties of the filler materials to significantly improve the performance of the polymer matrix. They are employed in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, biomedical, and packaging. The multifunctional nature of polymer composites makes them highly attractive for addressing complex engineering challenges.

With the continuous advancement of reinforcement techniques, the use of nanoengineering, and a stronger focus on sustainable methods, polymer composites are set to play a key role in the development of next-generation materials. The development of eco-friendly materials and manufacturing techniques is particularly critical in minimizing the environmental impact and enhancing the long-term viability of these composites.

This Special Issue, entitled “Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Techniques”, welcomes the submission of high-quality original research articles and reviews that showcase the latest innovations and developments in the field.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Sustainable polymer composites derived from bio-based or renewable resources;
  • Polymer composites developed from recycled materials;
  • Carbon-based polymer composites with an emphasis on sustainability;
  • Sustainable design strategies for polymer composites;
  • Multifunctional polymer composites for advanced applications;
  • Life cycle assessment and environmental impact evaluation of polymer composites;
  • The development of sustainable manufacturing for polymeric composite materials with applications in devices with a high mechanical performance and high energy storage.

Dr. Sakrit Hait
Dr. Miroslav Slouf
Dr. Chungfu Cheng
Guest Editors

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-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

  • functional polymer composite
  • polymer nanocomposite
  • high-toughness polymer
  • high-modulus polymer
  • bio-based microparticles and nanoparticles
  • reinforcement
  • polymer recycling
  • sustainable manufacturing
  • structure-property relationships
  • macro-, micro-, and nanomechanical properties
  • solid-state processing

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 (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

27 pages, 5849 KB  
Article
Synergistic Enhancement of Polymer–Cement Waterproof Coatings by Silane-Functionalized Cellulose Nanofibril
by Zizheng Wang, Kexin Xu, Xiaopeng Li, Qin Wang, Jian Wang, Sifan Zhao, Weidong Yang, Fanchao Zeng and Zhining Sun
Materials 2026, 19(8), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081583 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 541
Abstract
To enhance the mechanical properties and waterproof performance of polymer–cement (JS) waterproof coatings, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were surface-modified using vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES). The modified cellulose nanofibrils (m-CNFs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy [...] Read more.
To enhance the mechanical properties and waterproof performance of polymer–cement (JS) waterproof coatings, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were surface-modified using vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES). The modified cellulose nanofibrils (m-CNFs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). JS waterproof coatings incorporating m-CNFs were subsequently prepared. The performance and mechanism were systematically evaluated using the tensile strength, bonding strength, water absorption, contact angle, permeability test, durability test, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results indicated that the coating exhibited optimal performance when 1 wt% m-CNFs were incorporated. Under this condition, the tensile strength and bonding strength increased by 33.8% and 9.8%, respectively, while the 7-day water absorption decreased by 72.9%. The contact angle reached 97.1°, and the durability of the coating was also improved. Moreover, the amphiphilic nature introduced by silane modification effectively improved the interfacial adhesion between the organic and inorganic phases within the coating. In addition, due to their water absorption capacity, m-CNFs fill the micropores of the coating during the curing process and produce an internal curing effect, thereby reducing the porosity of the material. As a result of these synergistic effects, the mechanical strength and hydrophobicity of the JS waterproof coating are significantly enhanced. This study expands the application of CNFs, a sustainable nanomaterial, in building waterproofing materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Techniques)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1570 KB  
Article
The Use of Bioadditives as Plasticizers in Recycled Polyethylene Materials
by Kalina Joanna Kaczmarek, Justyna Miedzianowska-Masłowska and Marcin Masłowski
Materials 2026, 19(3), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030570 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 513
Abstract
The growing emphasis on sustainable material design has intensified interest in bio-based additives as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic modifiers. This study evaluates the effects of four natural compounds—cetyl alcohol, thymol, lanolin, and lecithin—on the thermal, rheological, mechanical, surface, and aging properties [...] Read more.
The growing emphasis on sustainable material design has intensified interest in bio-based additives as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic modifiers. This study evaluates the effects of four natural compounds—cetyl alcohol, thymol, lanolin, and lecithin—on the thermal, rheological, mechanical, surface, and aging properties of regranulated low-density polyethylene (RLDPE). Post-consumer polyethylene waste was used as the polymer matrix, while biochar served as a sustainable reinforcing filler replacing carbon black. Differential scanning calorimetry, melt flow index measurements, rheological behavior, surface energy analysis, mechanical testing and thermo-oxidative aging assessments were conducted to assess structure–property relationships. Biochar increased stiffness, hardness, and impact resistance but reduced ductility and melt flow due to restricted chain mobility. The addition of natural compounds partially compensated for these effects by improving melt flow, modifying crystallization behavior, and enhancing resistance to thermo-oxidative degradation without severely diminishing mechanical performance. Cetyl alcohol promoted the highest crystallinity and flexural properties, lanolin exhibited the strongest plasticizing effect and improved post-aging ductility, while lecithin and thymol produced intermediate changes, with lecithin significantly increasing surface energy. These results indicate that selected natural additives can act as effective ecological plasticizers or processing aids in biochar-filled recycled polyethylene composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Techniques)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7696 KB  
Article
Thermoplastic Starch Composites with Highly Exfoliated Nano-Clay Fillers and Excellent Barrier Properties
by Veronika Gajdosova, Beata Strachota, Vaclav Pokorny, Libuse Brozova, Jan Kozisek, Ewa Pavlova, Zdenek Stary, Miroslav Slouf and Adam Strachota
Materials 2026, 19(2), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020347 - 15 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 816
Abstract
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) nanocomposites with unprecedentedly high loadings of up to 15 wt.% of the nano-clays Laponite (LAP; a synthetic product capable of good dispersion in suitable media) or Montmorillonite (MMT; modified with dialkyldimethylammonium chloride) were prepared by means of our new, two-step [...] Read more.
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) nanocomposites with unprecedentedly high loadings of up to 15 wt.% of the nano-clays Laponite (LAP; a synthetic product capable of good dispersion in suitable media) or Montmorillonite (MMT; modified with dialkyldimethylammonium chloride) were prepared by means of our new, two-step TPS preparation protocol. In both the TPS/LAP and TPS/MMT composites, we achieved perfect dispersion and extensive exfoliation of the nano-clays, resulting in pronounced improvements in mechanical performance (modulus increased up to one order of magnitude) and in excellent gas-barrier properties (extremely small permeabilities for O2, CO2, and even H2). MMT, owing to its larger platelet size and to the formation of partially exfoliated multi-layer structures, generated a percolating filler network that provided particularly strong reinforcement, especially at 15 wt.% loading. LAP, though more completely exfoliated, generated a somewhat smaller mechanical reinforcement, but it more strongly increased processing viscosity due to its high specific surface area, which generated highly stable physical crosslinking that persisted even at processing temperatures of T ≥ 120 °C. Efficient matrix–filler interactions were confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, where the better-exfoliated LAP generated a higher stabilization. The combination of strong mechanical reinforcement with outstanding gas-barrier properties makes the TPS/MMT and TPS/LAP nanocomposites attractive for food-packaging applications, where their natural origin, non-toxicity, bio-degradability, and abundance of nanocomposite components are an additional bonus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Polymer Composite Materials: Reinforcement, Nano-Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Techniques)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop