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Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4928

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hui Zhao

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Guest Editor

School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: polyurethane; cellulose; composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yang Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: cellulose; packaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Changzhou Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: composite materials; lignocellulose; hydrogels; biomedical applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polyurethane, cellulose, and their composites have been widely used in hitherto unimagined areas due to their excellent properties. Along with fast-increasing consumption in recent years, the demand for advanced polyurethane and cellulose-based composites has grown rapidly. Accordingly, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on innovation in polyurethane and cellulose-based materials, including material synthesis, modification, and engineering.

Dr. Hui Zhao
Dr. Yang Liu
Dr. Changzhou Chen
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 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. 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

polyurethane
cellulose
lignocellulose
composites
properties

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1249 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Variants of Independent Elastic Constants of Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Symmetry Elements

by Aivars Lagzdiņš, Ilze Beverte, Vilis Skruls and Jānis Andersons

Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2431; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172431 - 8 Sep 2025

Viewed by 348

Abstract

Rigid PU foams have wide practical applications, and their mathematical modelling would benefit from deeper knowledge about the variants of independent elastic constants of symmetric PU foams. Therefore, in this study, various symmetry elements of rigid PU foams were analysed in relation to the characteristics of production moulds and technologies. The generalised Hooke’s law was considered together with additional relationships valid for certain types of symmetry. Variants of independent elastic constants were determined for orthotropic, orthotropic with a rotational symmetry, and isotropic PU foams. For transtropic PU foams, nine variants of independent elastic constants were identified and corresponding equations for the components of response strain tensor were derived. Then, in order to investigate the results provided by the 9 variants, 12 elastic constants were determined experimentally in compression and shear for free-rise, rigid, and quasi-transtropic PU foams with average densities of 34 kg/m³, 55 kg/m³, and 75 kg/m³. Based on the analysis of (a) measurement uncertainties and (b) satisfying of the transtropy equations, an assessment was made of the correspondence of the experimentally determined elastic constants to the constants of a perfectly transtropic material. This made it possible to identify variants of independent constants that ensure the best correspondence between the calculated strains and the set of average strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition))

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25 pages, 7036 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modified Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane Films with Streptomyces Extracts Presenting Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Activity

by Oscar T. Rodriguez, Luis E. Diaz and Manuel F. Valero

Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172383 - 31 Aug 2025

Viewed by 889

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is a problematic pathogen due to its high-risk infections and resistance mechanisms. To fight against this bacterium, novel antimicrobial sources and new delivery systems must be developed. Antimicrobial polyurethanes for developing biomaterials can function as preventive strategies. In this study, we explore the synthesis of partially renewable polyurethanes as biomaterial carriers of novel antimicrobials. An antibacterial extract from a Streptomyces sp. strain and its inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin, used as an additional protective approach, were incorporated into castor oil-based polyurethane films through bulk or surface loading. The inclusion complexes were characterized to confirm host–guest interactions. The films were characterized by FTIR, XRD spectra, surface SEM images, hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and mechanical performance. FTIR suggested successful polyurethane synthesis. The polymers were semicrystalline and thermally stable until 260 °C, and Tg ranged between −16.9 and −9 °C. Bulk modification decreased the mechanical performance of the films. Surface modification promoted good antibacterial performance but cytotoxic potential against HDFa cells. However, PU active films showed favorable properties and hemocompatibility, making them a promising alternative for applications such as short-term dressings, serving as an antimicrobial delivery system and a preventive strategy against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition))

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14 pages, 2482 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multiscale Structural Engineering of Cellulose Foams: Performance Characterization and Fiber Imaging

by Patricija Pevec, Urška Kavčič, Aleš Hladnik and Diana Gregor-Svetec

Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2355; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172355 - 29 Aug 2025

Viewed by 703

Abstract

The paper industry is always looking for possible solutions for new fiber-based products, such as protective and cushioning materials. These materials must be carefully designed to provide effective cushioning while also being lightweight to reduce transportation costs. Additionally, they need to offer protection from environmental and mechanical damage, besides having good processability to ensure proper buffering. The widely used protective and cushioning materials, such as plastic foams and expanded or extruded polystyrene, create significant disposal challenges. Therefore, there is increasing demand for biodegradable and sustainable materials for cushioning applications. The focus of our research was to develop fiber-based foams and investigate the influence of different compositions (hardwood and softwood) of cellulose fibers on the basic (mass, thickness, density) and mechanical properties (three-point bend test, tensile properties). Foams made entirely from short eucalyptus fibers (100S) exhibited the highest density (28.0 ± 0.34 kg/m³) and lowest thickness (38.82 ± 4.21 mm), resulting in superior tensile strength and elastic modulus but lower strain at break. In contrast, foams composed of long spruce fibers (100L) had the lowest density (19.0 ± 0.27 kg/m³) and highest thickness (58.52 ± 1.50 mm), with lower strength and stiffness but much higher ductility and porosity (confirmed by ~30% higher air permeability compared to 100S). Blended formulations demonstrated intermediate behavior, with the 50S50L foam showing a favorable balance of strength, stiffness, and flexibility. Visual analysis confirmed heterogeneous fiber distribution with localized agglomerates and compaction at the bottom layer due to casting. To further interpret the complex relationships within the dataset and uncover patterns, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to all experimental results. The findings of the research contribute to the broader understanding of how different fiber types and blends impact the performance of sustainable cellulose-based foams, with potential implications for the development of biodegradable packaging and lightweight construction materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition))

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28 pages, 17005 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact and Failure Analysis of U-Shaped Concrete Containing Polyurethane Materials: Deep Learning and Digital Imaging Correlation-Based Approach

by Saleh Ahmad Laqsum, Han Zhu, Sadi I. Haruna, Yasser E. Ibrahim, Mohammed Amer, Ali Al-Shawafi and Omar Shabbir Ahmed

Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091245 - 2 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 894

Abstract

This study investigates the use of advanced convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to analyze and classify the fracture behavior of U-shaped concrete modified with polyurethane (PU) under repeated drop-weight impact loads. A total of 17 U-shaped specimens were tested under multiple drop-weight impact loads for each PU binder content (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) by weight of cement. By integrating digital image correlation (DIC) with dynamic and static mechanical testing, this research evaluates the concrete’s impact resistance and flexural behavior with varying PU binder content. Three CNN architectures, InceptionV3, MobileNet, and DenseNet121, were trained on a dataset comprising 1655 high-resolution crack images to classify the failure stages into no crack, initial crack, and advanced failure. Experimental results revealed that 20% PU content optimally enhances impact resistance and flexural strength, while mechanical properties declined significantly with 30% PU content. The strain localization in DIC analysis indicated reduced matrix cohesion, which was measured by the extent of strain concentration in the material, highlighting the importance of maintaining PU content below 20% to avoid compromising structural integrity. Among the models, InceptionV3 demonstrated superior accuracy (96.67%), precision, and recall, outperforming MobileNet (94.56%) and DenseNet121 (90.03%). The combination of DIC and deep learning offers a robust, automated framework for crack assessment, significantly improving accuracy and efficiency over traditional methods such as visual inspections, which are time-consuming and reliant on expert judgment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition))

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10 pages, 1383 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Odor-Active 2-Ethyldimethyl-1,3,6-trioxocane Isomers in Polyurethane Materials

by Charlotte Minig, Alexandra Meißner and Martin Steinhaus

Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3573; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243573 - 21 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1150

Abstract

Polyurethane materials, widely used in indoor environments, occasionally exhibit unpleasant odors. An important source of polyurethane odorants is polyether polyols. Previous studies identified odorous 2-ethyldimethyl-1,3,6-trioxocanes in polyurethane materials and polyols but did not investigate the odor activity of the individual isomers. In the present work, an isomer mixture of the precursor dipropylene glycol was fractionated through preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. After the conversion to the corresponding trioxocanes, gas chromatography-olfactometry analyses revealed that just one positional isomer, namely 2-ethyl-4,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-trioxocane, was odor active. Moreover, we observed clear differences in the odor threshold concentrations among its stereoisomers. Only two out of eight isomers displayed an odor, both with an earthy smell and one being approximately 60 times more potent than the other. These insights contribute to a better understanding of polyurethane odor on a molecular level and provide a basis for effective odor control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Preparation, Properties and Application of Polyurethane, Cellulose and Their Composites (3rd Edition))

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