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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1869

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Dr. Hui Zhao

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Guest Editor

School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: polyurethane; cellulose; composites
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Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials and their composites have been widely utilized in previously unimagined areas due to their light weight, high flexibility, and excellent processing ability. Along with the fast-increasing consumption of polymeric materials in recent years, the demand for advanced polymer processing technology is ever-increasing. This trend aligns with the growing focus in polymer engineering on developing smart and eco-friendly systems, which aims to combine sustainability with innovative functionality.

Advanced polymer processing, including 3D printing, electrospinning, extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, casting, etc., can convert polymeric materials into various useful products. Obviously, the processing conditions, properties, and structures of polymeric materials and their composites have a close relationship with each other. The aim of this Special Issue is to present a collection of research or review papers to depict the recent progress in the processing and application of polymeric materials and their composites, especially those contributing to the development of smart and eco-friendly systems.

We welcome contributions dealing with related research fields; we hope that this stimulating subject will inspire you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue.

Dr. Hui Zhao
Guest Editor

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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. Polymers 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 2700 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

polymer composites
biodegradable polymer
polymer processing
antibacterial
thermal stability
mechanical properties
smart and eco-friendly systems

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Research

17 pages, 10905 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring Pore Size and Surface Charge of Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes via Alkaline Post-Treatment for Brackish Water Desalination

by Ying Li, Renzhong Wang, Zheng Liu, Yang Zhao, Long Li, Qian Cao and Feng Shao

Polymers 2026, 18(8), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080995 - 19 Apr 2026

Viewed by 369

Abstract

Overcoming the inherent permeability–selectivity trade−off is essential to broaden the practical application of polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in brackish water desalination. In this study, we developed a facile and cost-effective alkaline (NaOH) post-treatment method to fabricate high−performance loose-structured RO membranes. The NaOH post−treatment hydrolyzed part of the amide bonds within the membrane, converting them to negatively charged carboxyl groups. This process led to a slight increase in pore size and the formation of a looser structure. Molecular weight cut−off (MWCO) measurements confirmed that the pore size slightly increased from 0.19 nm to 0.21 nm, while X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta potential measurements confirmed the conversion of amide bonds to carboxyl groups, which further enhanced the surface electronegativity. The synergistic effects of pore size enlargement and surface charge modification were elucidated as the key mechanisms for performance enhancement. The TPA membrane exhibited a 2−fold increase in water permeance (from 1.05 to 3.21 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹), while the enhanced surface negative charge contributed to maintaining a high NaCl rejection of 98.5%. Additionally, the membrane also exhibited excellent pH stability as well as long-term stability over 100 h of continuous operation. This easily scalable post−treatment strategy offers a low−cost route to fabricate loose-structured membranes, with significant potential to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in brackish water desalination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites for Smart and Eco-Friendly Systems)

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20 pages, 1733 KB

Open AccessArticle

High-Performance PA6 Composites Reinforced with Recycled Aramid Fibers from Firefighter Protective Clothing

by Joaquín Marco-Sanjuan, Carlos Lazaro-Herdez, Mario Miranda-Pinzon and Octavio Fenollar

Polymers 2026, 18(8), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080931 - 10 Apr 2026

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Abstract

The recycling of technical textile waste represents a major challenge due to the complex and multilayered structure of these materials. Firefighter protective clothing, mainly composed of high-performance aramid fibers combined with polymeric membranes and auxiliary textile components, is commonly landfilled or incinerated at the end of its service life, resulting in a significant environmental impact. This work utilized recycled aramid-rich textile waste obtained from end-of-life firefighter protective clothing as reinforcement for polyamide 6 to develop high-performance thermoplastic composites within a circular economy framework. Composites containing 15, 30, 45, and 60 wt.% of recycled textile waste were manufactured by melt compounding followed by injection molding. In addition, a selected formulation containing 30 wt.% reinforcement was compatibilized using an amino-functional silane to improve interfacial adhesion. The materials were systematically characterized in terms of tensile properties, thermal behavior, thermomechanical performance, water uptake, flammability, colorimetric properties, and fracture morphology by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed a pronounced increase in stiffness and thermomechanical stability, with tensile strength increasing from approximately 65 MPa for neat PA6 up to 78 MPa at 30 wt.% reinforcement, and elastic modulus exceeding 5000 MPa at high reinforcement contents. An optimal balance between mechanical performance and ductility was achieved at 30 wt.% reinforcement, while higher contents enabled a substantial extension of the service temperature range, with HDT values increasing from 55 °C for neat PA6 up to 173 °C for highly reinforced systems. FESEM analysis confirmed improved interfacial adhesion in silane-compatibilized systems, explaining the enhanced mechanical and thermomechanical behavior. Furthermore, the incorporation of recycled aramid-rich textile waste led to a significant improvement in flame retardancy, enabling UL-94 V-0 classification at 30 wt.% reinforcement and above, without the use of additional flame-retardant additives, enabling UL-94 V-0 classification without additional flame-retardant additives. Overall, this study demonstrates the technical feasibility and high added-value potential of valorizing firefighter protective clothing waste into advanced PA6-based composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and fire-resistant properties, providing a sustainable route for the valorization of high-performance textile waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites for Smart and Eco-Friendly Systems)

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24 pages, 2951 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Intelligent Composite Materials from Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Clitoria ternatea L. Anthocyanin Extract for Shrimp Freshness Monitoring

by Diana Carmona-Cantillo, Gustavo Gonzalez-Muñoz, Alexis López-Padilla, Fabian Rico-Rodríguez and Rodrigo Ortega-Toro

Polymers 2026, 18(6), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060684 - 11 Mar 2026

Viewed by 498

Abstract

The development of bioplastic films represents an alternative to conventional plastics and an opportunity for applications in intelligent packaging. The present study aimed to develop a smart material based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) incorporated with Clitoria ternatea L. extract, capable of monitoring shrimp freshness through colour changes associated with pH variations. The films were prepared using the casting method and characterised in terms of their physical, mechanical, structural, and functional properties. The incorporation of the anthocyanin extract (EAC) significantly intensified the colouration of the films, decreasing lightness (L*) from 88.7 to 37.1 and modifying the chromatic parameters (b from −0.16 to −22.34). Thickness increased from 109.5 μm to 184 μm as the extract concentration was raised, while water vapour permeability ranged from 0.77 to 1.79 g·m/m²·s·Pa, evidencing modifications in the structure of the polymeric matrix. From a mechanical standpoint, tensile strength decreased from 26.0 MPa to 15.2 MPa, and the elastic modulus was reduced by approximately 75.0 MPa, whereas the percentage elongation at break increased from 75.2% to 92.4%, confirming the plasticising effect of the extract. Functionally, the films exhibited a visible transition from blue to green during the refrigerated storage of shrimp, corresponding to increases in pH from 6.6 to 9.2 and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) values from 3.92 to 67.7 mg N/100 g. The formation of TVB-N followed first-order kinetics (R² = 0.997), confirming the sensitivity of the system as a freshness indicator. These results demonstrate the potential of PVA–anthocyanin films as intelligent colorimetric sensors for monitoring the freshness of protein-rich foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites for Smart and Eco-Friendly Systems)

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