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Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition)
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Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 3821

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Viktor Gribniak

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Guest Editor
1. Chief Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Innovative Building Structures, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
2. Professor of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: cement-based composites; FRP materials; characterization; long-term effects; fracture mechanics; high-temperature effects; constitutive and numerical modeling; statistical data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After our successful first two volumes of the Special Issue “Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application”, we decided to launch an additional Special Issue as a collection on this topic. The modern industry allows for the synthesis of composite materials with a wide range of mechanical properties applicable in medicine, aviation, automotive, etc. Structural use of innovative engineering technologies, however, requires a new design concept related to the development of materials with mechanical properties tailored for the purposes of construction. This is in contrast to the current design practice, in which design solutions are associated with the application of existing materials, the physical characteristics of which are generally imperfectly suited to the application requirements. The choice of construction materials has considerable room for improvement from a scientific viewpoint (following heuristic approaches).

The identification of fundamental relationships between the structure of advanced composites and the corresponding physical properties is the focus of this Special Issue. This second volume continues the successful series of publications focused on the development of sustainable composites with valorised manufacturability for a breakthrough from conventional practices and corresponding to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 ideology. The articles published in the previous volume revealed that the application of nanoparticles improves the mechanical performance of composite materials; fibrous reinforcement improves the ductility of structural components; advanced woven fabrics efficiently reinforce soft body armour; heat-resistant aluminium composites ensure the safety of overhead power transmission lines; chemical additives can help with detecting temperature impact on concrete structures; and so on. The publication series aims to combine the innovative achievements of experts in the fields of materials and structural engineering to raise the scientific and practical value of the gathered results of the interdisciplinary research.

Prof. Dr. Viktor Gribniak
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

  • composites
  • fibres
  • nanoparticles
  • manufacturing technology
  • material characterization
  • materials structure
  • structural application
  • tests

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2778 KiB  
Article
Development of a Process Technology to Improve the Internal Particle Density and Enhance the Performance of Medical Radiation Shielding Materials
by Seon-Chil Kim
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2174; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102174 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Protective garments for the medical radiation shielding of healthcare professionals must ensure flexibility and shielding performance. As such, process technologies for density enhancement are required when manufacturing shielding sheets to ensure the reproducibility of flexibility and shielding performance. Although previous efforts commonly reduced [...] Read more.
Protective garments for the medical radiation shielding of healthcare professionals must ensure flexibility and shielding performance. As such, process technologies for density enhancement are required when manufacturing shielding sheets to ensure the reproducibility of flexibility and shielding performance. Although previous efforts commonly reduced particle size to minimize porosity, nanoparticle production cost is significant. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the density of the shielding sheet by controlling the spacing between internal particles. The proposed improvement method is based on polydisperse particle packing. Particle sizes can be adjusted using process techniques such as sintering, pressing, and mixing. The study materials used are tungsten and bismuth oxide (eco-friendly alternatives to lead), with polyethylene as the polymer matrix. First, the shielding performance improved by 4% in the sintering process when the tungsten content reached 90 weight percent (wt%). The solvent removal process, used to eliminate the solvent added for polymer utilization, increased the density by 13.18%; however, it was lower than that of the compression process. The shielding performance improved by approximately 10% in the compression molding process when the tungsten content was 90 wt%. This study confirms that optimizing density enhancement strategies for radiation shielding materials can significantly improve shielding performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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19 pages, 1311 KiB  
Article
Revolutionizing Concrete: Performance Enhancement and Elemental Insights with Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Slag Replacement
by Jing Cheng Jason Ting, Foo Wei Lee, Kim Ho Yeap, Ren Jie Chin, Ming Kun Yew and Chun Chieh Yip
Materials 2025, 18(7), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071528 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 317
Abstract
This study explores the influence of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag particle size and replacement percentage on the engineering performance of concrete, providing valuable insights into its optimal utilization for sustainable construction. By analyzing particle size ranges—R1 (0.8–2.36 mm), R2 (2.36–4.75 mm), and [...] Read more.
This study explores the influence of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag particle size and replacement percentage on the engineering performance of concrete, providing valuable insights into its optimal utilization for sustainable construction. By analyzing particle size ranges—R1 (0.8–2.36 mm), R2 (2.36–4.75 mm), and R3 (4.75–7.0 mm)—this research highlights their distinct contributions to compressive strength and carbonation potential. Medium-sized particles (R2) emerged as the most suitable due to consistent compressive strength across different replacement percentages, high calcium content, and superior carbonation efficiency, leading to the highest calcium carbonate formation and CO2 uptake. The novelty of this work lies in integrating advanced analytical techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), to elucidate the microstructural mechanisms driving these performance enhancements. The findings establish a quantifiable relationship between EAF slag’s high calcium and magnesium oxide content and its role in mechanical improvements and carbon dioxide sequestration via mineral carbonation reactions, with R2 achieving the highest CO2 uptake. This comprehensive approach addresses the apparent contradiction between early-stage and long-term performance, emphasizing R2’s suitability, with 45% of the replacement of fine aggregate as the optimal choice for sustainable high-performance concrete with superior strength stability and carbonation efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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17 pages, 4743 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Bonding Resistance of the Ribbed Stainless-Steel Bar in the Refractory Castable After High-Temperature Treatment
by Linas Plioplys, Andrius Kudžma, Valentin Antonovič and Viktor Gribniak
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061282 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
Calcium aluminate cement-based castables were developed in the early 1990s for the metallurgical and petrochemical industries, exhibiting exceptional mechanical resistance when heated over 1000 °C. In typical operation conditions, they withstand compressive stresses due to high temperatures and mechanical loads. The extraordinary material [...] Read more.
Calcium aluminate cement-based castables were developed in the early 1990s for the metallurgical and petrochemical industries, exhibiting exceptional mechanical resistance when heated over 1000 °C. In typical operation conditions, they withstand compressive stresses due to high temperatures and mechanical loads. The extraordinary material performance has led to interest in using these materials for developing building protection systems against fires and explosions. This application requires structural reinforcement to resist tensile stresses in the concrete caused by accidental loads, making the bonding of reinforcement crucial. The different temperature expansion properties of the castables and reinforcement steel further complicate the bonding mechanisms. This manuscript belongs to a research project on developing refractory composites for civil infrastructure protection. In previous studies, extensive pull-out tests evaluated various combinations of refractories and reinforcement types to determine the most efficient candidates for refractory composite development. Thus, this study employs ribbed stainless Type 304 steel bars and a conventional castable, modified with 2.5 wt% microsilica for a 100 MPa cold compressive strength. It uses the previous pull-out test results to create a numerical model to predict the bonding resistance of the selected material combination. Following the composite development concept, this experimentally verified model defines a reference for further developing refractory composites: the test outcome of a new material must outperform the numerical prediction to be efficient. This study also delivers an empirical relationship between the castable deformation modulus and treatment temperature to model the reinforcement pull-out deformation in the composite heated up to 1000 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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14 pages, 3201 KiB  
Article
Impact of Yttrium Oxide on the Synthesis and Sintering Properties of Cordierite–Mullite Composite Ceramics
by Hui Zhang, Lu Feng, Weibo Mao, Quanming Liu, Liang Zhao and Hong Zhang
Materials 2025, 18(3), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030687 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 790
Abstract
To enhance the mechanical properties and high-temperature performance of cordierite–mullite composite ceramics, yttrium oxide (Y2O3), a rare earth metal oxide, was employed as a sintering aid to fabricate these composites via in situ synthesis and non-pressure sintering. This study [...] Read more.
To enhance the mechanical properties and high-temperature performance of cordierite–mullite composite ceramics, yttrium oxide (Y2O3), a rare earth metal oxide, was employed as a sintering aid to fabricate these composites via in situ synthesis and non-pressure sintering. This study systematically investigated the formation mechanisms of the cordierite and mullite phases and examined the effects of yttrium oxide on the densification behavior, mechanical properties, volumetric stability, and thermal shock resistance. The results indicate that incorporating yttrium oxide (1.5–6.0 wt%) not only promoted the formation of the cordierite phase but also refined the microstructure and enhanced the thermal shock stability at a sintering temperature of 1350 °C. An optimal addition of 3 wt% yttrium oxide ensures that the primary phases are cordierite and mullite, with a microstructure characterized by uniformly distributed micropores, hexagonal short-columnar cordierite, and interlocking rod-like mullite, thereby significantly improving both the mechanical properties and thermal shock stability. Specifically, the room-temperature compressive strength increased by 121%, the flexural strength increased by 177%, and, after three thermal shock cycles at 1100 °C, the retention rates for compressive and flexural strengths were 87.66% and 71.01%, respectively. This research provides a critical foundation for enhancing the mechanical properties and high-temperature service performance of cordierite–mullite saggers used in lithium battery cathode materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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13 pages, 7782 KiB  
Article
The Effect of p-Toluenesulfonic Acid and Phosphoric Acid (V) Content on the Heat Resistance and Thermal Properties of Phenol Resin and Phenol-Carbon Composite
by Łukasz Rybakiewicz and Janusz Zmywaczyk
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5914; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235914 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 787
Abstract
This work presents the results of research on the influence of the amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid and phosphoric acid (V) added to the phenol-formaldehyde resin (pH 7.3–7.8) on its thermal properties and on the phenol-formaldehyde-carbon composite produced on its basis. This material undergoes [...] Read more.
This work presents the results of research on the influence of the amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid and phosphoric acid (V) added to the phenol-formaldehyde resin (pH 7.3–7.8) on its thermal properties and on the phenol-formaldehyde-carbon composite produced on its basis. This material undergoes pyrolysis under high temperature. The addition of a catalyst to the phenol-formaldehyde resin affects its curing rate and degree of cross-linking, but how it affects the thermal properties of the resin depending on the temperature is the subject of this work. This article presents the results of thermal tests for phenol-formaldehyde resin and phenol-formaldehyde-carbon composite. It was examined how the content of the catalyst used during the production process affects the individual thermal parameters of the mentioned materials. The results include experimental tests of thermal diffusivity with uncertainty (±3%), specific heat capacity (±2.5%), thermal expansion with resolution 2 nm analyzed in the temperature range −40–115 °C and thermogravimetric TG/DTA analysis with resolution 0.03 µg in the temperature range from room temperature (RT = 23 °C) to 550 °C. Individual thermal tests showed changes in the thermal properties caused by changes in the catalyst content of the tested materials and the influence of the addition of carbon fibers on the properties of the composite compared to the pure phenol-formaldehyde resin. It was found that there is a certain maximum level of catalyst weight fraction at which the greatest decrease in thermal diffusivity occurs. In the case of phenolic-formaldehyde-carbon composite at −40 °C, an increase in catalyst weight fraction from 2 to 4 wt% caused a decrease in thermal diffusivity by 18.2%, and for phenol-formaldehyde resin, it was 2.8% with an increase in catalyst fraction from 4 to 10 wt%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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Review

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24 pages, 3103 KiB  
Review
Interpenetrating Composites: A Nomenclature Dilemma
by Konda Gokuldoss Prashanth
Materials 2025, 18(2), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020273 - 9 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 797
Abstract
Interpenetrating phase composites are a novel class of heterogeneous structures that have recently gained attention. In these types of composites, one of the phases is topologically continuous and can maintain its structural integrity even if the other phase is removed. These composites are [...] Read more.
Interpenetrating phase composites are a novel class of heterogeneous structures that have recently gained attention. In these types of composites, one of the phases is topologically continuous and can maintain its structural integrity even if the other phase is removed. These composites are generally fabricated by casting, where the reinforcement penetrates into the precursor matrix as a continuous phase. However, the following dilemma arises: if the same two phases are combined by other powder metallurgical routes (due to differences in the fabrication and interfacial conditions), can they still be called interpenetrating phase composites? The reinforcement is added to the precursor matrix, as in any of the conventional composite processing methods. Most importantly, the reinforcement does not interpenetrate the matrix phase. The present Review discusses the various fabrication routes employed for the fabrication of these interpenetrating phase composites and attempts to identify the correct nomenclature for these composites fabricated via the powder metallurgical approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composites: From Material Characterization to Structural Application (Third Edition))
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