Micro- and Nanosized Polymer Powders: From Design to Processing Technologies and Advanced Applications
A Special Issue of Micro (ISSN 2673-8023) belonging to the section "Microscale Materials Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 2046
Editors
Interests: polymer chemistry; reactive microencapsulation; reactive processing; polymer micro- and nanocomposites; polymer crystallization; synchrotron wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering of polymers; spectroscopy of polymers; mechanical testing of polymer composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: polymer chemistry; anionic polymeriation; enzymatic catalysis; immobiliation of enzymes; enzyme-mediated synthesis of conductive polymers; polymer analysis (solid state NMR, X-ray scattering, molecular spectroscopy)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Micro- and nanosized polymer powders with controlled size, morphology, and functionality are increasingly central to modern polymer science and technology. Their high surface-to-volume ratio, tunable chemistry, and adaptable physical properties enable applications in biomedicine, energy storage and conversion, flexible electronics, and advanced manufacturing. Progress in synthesis, surface functionalization, and hybridization has expanded their performance envelope, allowing tailored mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, and biological behavior.
Beyond material design, polymer powders are key enablers of multiple processing technologies. Powder-based routes such as Powder Bed Fusion (e.g., SLS/MJF), binder jetting, rotational molding, fluidized bed and electrostatic powder coating, isostatic pressing, powder-based extrusion, and micromolding (microinjection and microextrusion using powder-derived feedstocks) critically depend on powder characteristics. In many cases, particle size distribution, morphology, crystallinity, flowability, and surface chemistry define the effective processing window as strongly as machine architecture and process control. Understanding powder–process–microstructure–property relationships is therefore essential for both laboratory-scale innovation and industrial scale-up.
This Special Issue aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform bridging fundamental powder design, advanced characterization, and industrial implementation. We welcome original research articles and reviews addressing past achievements, current progress, and future directions in polymer powder science and technology.
The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Advanced synthesis and functionalization of micro- and nanosized polymer powders (e.g., precipitation, emulsion/dispersion polymerization, ionic polymerizations, electrospinning, supercritical fluids);
- Powder–process–property relationships in additive manufacturing and other powder-based processing routes;
- Biomedical applications (drug delivery, regenerative medicine, scaffolds, immobilized biomolecules);
- Flexible and wearable electronics;
- Energy storage and conversion (batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, hydrogen-related systems);
- Polymer–inorganic hybrid powders (catalysis, EMI shielding, environmental remediation);
- Powder recyclability, aging, scale-up strategies, and industrial process window mapping;
- Advanced characterization and modeling (e.g., synchrotron SAXS/WAXS, in situ TEM/SEM, AFM, XPS, predictive tools).
By integrating materials design with processing science and industrial perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to position polymer powders as a versatile and enabling platform for next-generation technologies.
Dr. Zlatan Denchev
Dr. Nadya Vasileva Dencheva
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micro is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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
- micro- and nanosized polymer powders
- powder–process–property relationships
- powder-based processing technologies
- additive manufacturing (SLS, MJF, binder jetting)
- micromolding and microextrusion
- industrial process window mapping and scale-up
- powder recyclability and aging
- biomedical and biofunctional polymer powders
- energy storage and conversion materials
- advanced micro-/nanoscale characterization
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.
