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Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application

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A Special Issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) belonging to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2026) | Viewed by 13869

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhanjun Wu

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Guest Editor

1.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
2.College of Fiber Engineering and Equipment Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Interests: polymer composites; fatigue; structural health monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Cong Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Fiber Engineering and Equipment Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Interests: high performance thermoset; resin-based composite
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Resin-based composites are widely used in high-end applications such as aerospace, the marine industry, dentistry, and medical devices owing to their high specific strength, good chemical and corrosion resistance, and flexible processing. The research on resin-based composites is comprehensive, involving polymer synthesis and modification, the development of reinforcement, the interface between science and processing technology, etc. The flourishing development and demand in resin-based composites have attracted many researchers to engage in this promising filed. Based on this, we established a Special Issue in Materials titled Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application.

This Special Issue provides a forum for publishing papers focusing on the in-depth study of resin-based composites including the synthesis and modification of the matrix and reinforcement; their structural, mechanical, chemical, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties; and the various applications of all kinds of resin-based composites.

Prof. Dr. Zhanjun Wu
Dr. Cong Peng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

resin
filler
reinforcement
composite
interface
modification
mechanical properties
electronic properties
optical properties
thermal behavior

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3845 KB

Open AccessArticle

Thermomechanical Behaviour of Chemically Cured Polymer Composites: Preliminary Analysis of the Scale Effect

by Łukasz Suchecki, Szymon Arkanowicz, Krzysztof Piernik, Angelika Milena Jasińska and Piotr Zagulski

Materials 2026, 19(10), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19102093 - 16 May 2026

Viewed by 327

Abstract

This study examines the influence of scale effects on the thermomechanical and structural performance of chemically cured, glass-fibre-reinforced polyester composites. Two reinforcement architectures—plain 0/90° fabric and biaxial fabric—were analysed to assess differences in resin flow, curing behaviour, and mechanical characteristics. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was employed to characterise cross-linking kinetics at 15 °C, 19 °C, and 25 °C, demonstrating that higher cure temperatures markedly accelerate gelation and cross-linking. Composite plates were manufactured by Light Resin Transfer Moulding (L-RTM), and static tensile tests were conducted in accordance with PN-EN ISO 527-4. The results confirm that reinforcement architecture strongly affects processability and mechanical performance. The 0/90° fabric provided superior resin permeability and shorter infusion times, whereas the biaxial fabric required higher injection pressure and exhibited longer curing duration. Statistical analysis based on Weibull’s brittle strength theory verified the presence of scale effects: larger specimens displayed lower nominal strength due to a higher probability of internal flaws. Multiple regression modelling further revealed relationships between geometric and mechanical parameters: maximum (destructive) stress, Rm, was the dominant factor influencing both specimen thickness and number of layers, while deformation at maximum stress (εm) primarily determined specimen length. These findings highlight the necessity of accounting for size-dependent behaviour when designing and testing polymer composites. Considering scale effects enables more reliable extrapolation from laboratory-scale tests to full-scale components, thereby improving predictability and structural reliability in engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application)

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18 pages, 4243 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Overall Performance Enhancement of Epoxy Resins Loaded with Non-Covalently Modified Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanosheets

by Marialuigia Raimondo and Liberata Guadagno

Materials 2026, 19(8), 1569; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081569 - 14 Apr 2026

Viewed by 698

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate that both carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanosheets (G) were successfully modified by π-stacking interactions with a pyrene derivative (PY), yielding the functionalized nanofillers CNT-PY and G-PY, which were subsequently dispersed within an aeronautical epoxy matrix. This functionalization is highly effective in preserving the remarkable electronic properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets. At the same time, the non-covalent functionalization reduces the resin viscosity, enabling a more effective dispersion of the nanofillers. This results in improved rheological behavior and an overall enhancement of the structural performance of the nanocomposites compared to the resin containing unfunctionalized carbon nanofillers (CNT and G). Additional improvements are also observed in electrical properties, self-healing efficiency, and thermal stability. In particular, the samples containing functionalized carbon nanotubes (TBD + 1%CNT-PY) and functionalized graphene nanosheets (TBD + 1%G-PY) exhibit higher conductivities—0.391 S/m and 0.1 S/m, respectively—than the samples loaded with unfunctionalized carbon nanotubes (TBD + 1%CNT) and unfunctionalized graphene nanosheets (TBD + 1%G), which show conductivity values of 0.292 S/m and 4.82 × 10⁻³ S/m, respectively. The functionalized graphene nanosheets (G-PY) display significantly greater thermal stability, with degradation temperatures reaching 670 °C, compared to 310 °C for unfunctionalized ones (G). The functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT-PY) show a 10% weight loss at 520 °C due to the degradation of the pyrene groups. Significant improvements in the final properties can be achieved when carbon-based nanofillers are homogeneously dispersed in the matrix and the external load is efficiently transferred through strong filler–polymer interfacial interactions, leading to composites with superior characteristics suitable for advanced applications. Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA) highlights the morphological features of the two types of carbon nanofillers, their dispersion within the polymer matrix and the effect of the functionalization on the electrical pathways and conductivity of the samples at both the micro- and nanometer-scale. The measured electrical conductivities are consistent with the electric currents detected at the micro/nanoscale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application)

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15 pages, 8198 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Differential Effects of Adding Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Mechanical Properties and Crystalline Behavior of Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Carbon Fiber or Glass Fiber

by Hiroki Satoh, Ayumu Morita and Yoshihiko Arao

Materials 2025, 18(5), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18050926 - 20 Feb 2025

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2252

Abstract

Short fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (SFRTPs) have excellent recyclability and processability, but their mechanical properties are weak compared to continuous fiber products. Various studies have reported that the addition of GNPs improves the mechanical properties of SFRTPs, but it is unclear what effect different types of reinforcing fibers have on a hybrid composite system. In this study, the effect of adding a small amount (1 wt%) of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites on their mechanical properties was investigated from a crystallinity perspective. GNPs were mixed with polypropylene (PP)/carbon fiber (CF) or PP/glass fiber (GF) using a melt blending process, and composites were molded by injection molding. The results of mechanical property characterization showed no significant effect when GNPs were added to PP/CF, but when GNPs were added to PP/GF, this increased the composite’s tensile strength and Young’s modulus by approximately 20% and 10%, respectively. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) predicted using the modified Kelly–Tyson equation did not change much before and after the addition of GNPs to PP/CF. On the other hand, the IFSS increased from 10.8 MPa to 19.2 MPa with the addition of GNPs to PP/GF. The increase in IFSS led to an increase in the tensile strength of PP/GF with the incorporation of GNPs. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that GNPs accelerated the crystallization rate, and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that GNPs acted as a crystal nucleating agent. However, CF was also shown to be a nucleating agent, limiting the effect of GNP addition. In other words, it can be said that the addition of GNPs to PP/GF is more effective than their addition to PP/CF due to the differential crystallization effects of each fiber. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application)

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18 pages, 9602 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation on the Curing and Thermal Properties of Epoxy/Amine/Phthalonitrile Blend

by Cong Peng, Tao Luo, Zhanjun Wu and Shichao Li

Materials 2024, 17(17), 4411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174411 - 7 Sep 2024

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3928

Abstract

The bisphenol A-type phthalonitrile (BAPH) was blended with the classic epoxy system E51/DDS to prepare the epoxy/phthalonitrile thermoset. The curing kinetics were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using the isoconversional principle, and the average activation energy (E_α) of the E51/DDS curing reaction was found to decrease from 87 kJ/mol to 68.6 kJ/mol. Combining the results of the rheological study, the promoting effect of phthalonitrile on the crosslink of epoxy/amine is confirmed. The curing reaction of the blended resin was characterized using FTIR, and the results showed that BAPH could react with DDS. The thermal behaviors of the thermosets were investigated via DMA and TGA. The glass transition temperature (T_g) is found to increase from 181 °C to 195 °C. The char yield increases from 16% to 59.6% at 800 °C in a N₂ atmosphere, which is higher than the calculated value based on the proportional principle. The AFM phase images show that there is no phase separation in the cured thermoset. The results imply that the cured epoxy/amine/phthalonitrile blend is probably a kind of copolymer. The real-time TG-MS indicated that the pyrolysis of the thermoset can be divided into two relatively independent stages, which can be assigned to the cleavage of the E51/DDS network, and the phthalocyanine/triazine/isoindoline, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application)

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Review

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31 pages, 6199 KB

Open AccessReview

Conventional Thermoset Composites and Their Sustainable Alternatives with Vitrimer Matrix—Waste Management/Recycling Options with Focus on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composites

by Paraskevi Markouti, Evanthia Tzouma, Alkiviadis S. Paipetis and Nektaria-Marianthi Barkoula

Materials 2025, 18(2), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020351 - 14 Jan 2025

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5528

Abstract

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) with epoxy matrices are widely applied in high-performance structural applications and represent one of the biggest classes of materials with urgent need for end-of-life management. Available waste management methodologies for conventional thermoset composites with a focus on CFRPs are briefly reviewed and their limitations are highlighted. In the quest to obtain materials with mechanical performance, thermal stability, and sustainability, the research community has turned its interest to develop polymer composites with adaptable and dynamic networks in their matrix, and lately also at an interface/interphase level. The current review focuses on the life extension/waste management options that are opened through the introduction of covalent adaptable networks in the epoxy matrix of CFRPs. The processing conditions that are applied for the healing/repairing, welding/reshaping, and/or recycling of CFRPs are presented in detail, and compared based on the most common dynamic exchange reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Resin Composites: From Synthesis to Application)

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