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Polymers
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Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application
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Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 2444

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhen Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Automobile, Chang'an University, Middle Section of Nan Erhuan Road, Xi'an 710064, China
Interests: composite formability; composite crashworthiness; optimization design of composite
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Guohua Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Automobile, Chang'an University, Middle Section of Nan Erhuan Road, Xi'an 710064, China
Interests: composite structures; mechanics of lattice materials; multi-scale modeling; crashworthiness; lightweight design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have advantages such as high specific strength and modulus, outstanding corrosion resistance and durability, flexible designability, and excellent lightweight effects. FRP composites have been widely used in fields including aerospace, transportation, construction, and marine engineering. However, FRP composites still face many challenges and issues in areas such as design methods, manufacturing technologies, performance characterizations, and structural applications. There is an urgent need for continuous technological innovation and optimization to address the various problems hindering the development of FRP composites. We welcome the submission of articles considering any of the following: design methods for FRP composites; manufacturing processes for FRP composites; property characterizations for composites; and industry applications for FRP composites.

Dr. Zhen Wang
Guest Editor

Dr. Guohua Zhu
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • fiber-reinforced composites
  • design method
  • manufacturing process
  • property characterization
  • structural application

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 11573 KiB  
Article
Development of Polymer–Gel Fibrous Composites for Well Water Shutoff in Fractured–Porous Carbonate Formations
by Aleksey Telin, Ravil Yakubov, Artem Pavlik, Vladimir Dokichev, Rida Gallyamova, Anton Mamykin, Farit Safarov, Vladimir Strizhnev, Sergey Vezhnin, Anatoly Politov and Lyubov Lenchenkova
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1541; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111541 - 1 Jun 2025
Viewed by 398
Abstract
The challenge of water shutoff in carbonate reservoirs is complicated by the presence of fractures, which cannot be effectively blocked using conventional hydrogel screens designed for granular reservoirs. To reliably seal fractures, fibrous and dispersed fillers are added to hydrogels. These fillers must [...] Read more.
The challenge of water shutoff in carbonate reservoirs is complicated by the presence of fractures, which cannot be effectively blocked using conventional hydrogel screens designed for granular reservoirs. To reliably seal fractures, fibrous and dispersed fillers are added to hydrogels. These fillers must exhibit affinity for the matrix to ensure the composites can effectively isolate water. Given the wide variability in fracture apertures, it is evident that water shutoff composites should incorporate fibers and dispersed fillers of varying geometric sizes. This study presents a range of hydrogel composites reinforced with mono-, bi-, and tri-component fibers, as well as dispersed fillers, designed for water shutoff in fractured carbonate reservoirs with varying fracture apertures. Oscillation test results demonstrated a twofold increase in the elastic modulus (40–45 Pa) for compositions with various fillers compared to the base composition (23 Pa). Filtration studies revealed the effectiveness of the optimized compositions under different fracture apertures. Specifically, even at a fracture aperture of 650 μm, the residual resistance factor (RRF) reached 82.3 and 9.76 at water flow rates of 0.1 cm3/min and 0.5 cm3/min, respectively. The conducted rheological and filtration tests, along with field trials, confirmed the validity of the selected approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application)
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21 pages, 7002 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Nano-Biochar Derived from Olive Waste on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites
by Muhammed İhsan Özgün, Vildan Erci, Emrah Madenci and Fatih Erci
Polymers 2025, 17(10), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17101337 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 358
Abstract
The increasing demand for the development of environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-derived materials has increased research efforts on sustainable polymer composites. This study systematically examined the effect of nano-biochar derived from agricultural wastes such as olive pulp on the mechanical and thermal properties [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for the development of environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-derived materials has increased research efforts on sustainable polymer composites. This study systematically examined the effect of nano-biochar derived from agricultural wastes such as olive pulp on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-resin-based composites. First, the biochar from olive pulp was produced by pyrolysis at 450 °C and turned to nano-biochar using ball milling. Composite samples containing nano-biochar at different rates between 0 and 10% were prepared. The nano-biochar and composite samples were characterized by using different techniques such as SEM-EDS, BET, FTIR, XRD, Raman, TGA, and DMA analyses. Also, the tensile strength, elastic modulus, Shore D hardness, thermal stability, and static toughness of the composite samples were evaluated. The best performance was observed in the sample containing 6% nano-biochar; the ultimate tensile strength increased from 17.37 MPa to 23.46 MPa compared to pure epoxy, and the elastic modulus and hardness increased. However, a decrease in brittleness and toughness was observed at higher additive rates. FTIR and DMA analyses indicated that the nano-biochar interacted strongly with the epoxy matrix and increased its thermal stability. The results showed that the olive-pulp-derived nano-biochar could be used to improve the structural and thermal properties of the epoxy composites as an inexpensive and environmentally friendly filler. As a result, this study contributes to the production of new polymer-based materials that will encourage the production of environmentally friendly composites with nano-scale biochar obtained from olive waste, which is an easily accessible, renewable by-product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application)
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18 pages, 1064 KiB  
Article
Post-Curing Effects on the Tensile Properties of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Polymers: Experimental and Numerical Insights
by Mohammed Zaini, Oumayma Hamlaoui, Jalal Chafiq, Mohamed Ait El Fqih, Mohamed Idiri, Said Aqil, Mohamed Karim Hajji, Alperen Bal, Hakan Tozan, Marta Harnicárová and Jan Valicek
Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091261 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 470
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of post-curing temperatures on the tensile properties of hybrid basalt-jute-glass-carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). Composite specimens were post-cured at 60 °C and 100 °C for 60 min, and their tensile behavior was assessed using a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Numerical [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of post-curing temperatures on the tensile properties of hybrid basalt-jute-glass-carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). Composite specimens were post-cured at 60 °C and 100 °C for 60 min, and their tensile behavior was assessed using a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Numerical simulations using the Abaqus software V6.14 were also conducted to compare experimental and computational results. The findings indicate that post-curing heat treatment enhances ductility due to increased polymer cross-linking, but excessive heat treatment at 100 °C negatively impacts elongation at fracture. The results revealed that specimens post-cured at 60 °C exhibited the optimal balance between strength and ductility, with increased elongation and moderate tensile strength. However, at 100 °C, while tensile strength improved in some cases, a significant decrease in elasticity and an increased risk of brittleness were observed, suggesting that extreme heat treatment may degrade polymer integrity. Natural fiber composites, particularly jute-based samples, outperformed synthetic composites in terms of elongation and overall mechanical stability. The numerical simulations provided further insights but showed discrepancies with experimental results, mainly due to fiber property variations and fabric waviness, underscoring the challenges of accurately modeling woven composites. The study highlights the importance of controlled post-curing temperatures in optimizing the mechanical performance of FRP composites, with 60 °C identified as the most effective condition for achieving a favorable balance between tensile strength, flexibility, and material durability. These findings offer valuable insights for material scientists and engineers working on the development of high-performance composite materials for structural and industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application)
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17 pages, 19395 KiB  
Article
Effect of Laser Processing Parameters on the Quality of Titanium Alloy Cladding Layer on Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
by Jiayan Li, Xuan Su, Fenxiang Wang, Donghe Zhang, Yingke Wang, Haoran Song, Jie Xu and Bin Guo
Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091195 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 307
Abstract
To address the insufficient bonding performance between TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) coating and carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP) matrices that limits engineering applications of composite structures, TC4 coatings were fabricated on CFRP polymer composites via laser cladding and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission [...] Read more.
To address the insufficient bonding performance between TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) coating and carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP) matrices that limits engineering applications of composite structures, TC4 coatings were fabricated on CFRP polymer composites via laser cladding and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine the interface morphology, microstructure, and phase composition. The influence of laser processing parameters on the cladding quality was assessed based on the mechanical performance of the TC4 coating. The findings revealed that insufficient laser power (<230 W) or excessive scanning speed (>1.4 m/min) led to incomplete melting of TC4 powder, preventing the formation of intermetallic compound (IMC) layers. Conversely, excessive laser power (>270 W) or a low scanning speed (<1.0 m/min) caused thermal decomposition of the CFRP due to its limited thermal resistance, leading to interfacial defects such as cracks and pores. The interface between the CFRP and TC4 coating primarily comprised granular TiC and acicular α′ martensite, with minor TiS2 detected. Optimal mechanical performance was achieved at a laser power of 250 W and a scanning speed of 1.2 m/min, yielding a maximum interfacial shear strength of 18.5 MPa. These findings provide critical insights for enhancing the load-bearing capacity of TC4/CFRP aeronautical composites, enabling their reliable operation in extreme aerospace environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application)
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30 pages, 6502 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Medical Materials: AI-Driven Assessment for Mechanical Performance of UVC-Treated Date Palm Epoxy Composites
by Mohamed A. Aboamer, Abdulrahman Hakami, Meshari Algethami, Ibrahim M. Alarifi, Tarek M. A. A. El-Bagory, Ahmad Alassaf, Bakheet A. Alresheedi, Ahmad K. AlOmari, Abdulaziz Abdullah Almazrua and Nader A. Rahman Mohamed
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081125 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
This study investigates the AI-assisted analyses of radiation disinfection effects on the mechanical properties of recycled date kernel powder–epoxy composites for medical applications, utilizing Euclidean distances and the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. Tensile and compression tests were conducted on twenty specimens following ASTM [...] Read more.
This study investigates the AI-assisted analyses of radiation disinfection effects on the mechanical properties of recycled date kernel powder–epoxy composites for medical applications, utilizing Euclidean distances and the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. Tensile and compression tests were conducted on twenty specimens following ASTM standards, with the data analyzed using a t-test to evaluate the impact of the UVC disinfection process on the material’s mechanical properties. The application of AI through the KNN algorithm successfully identified the three most representative curves out of five for both tensile and compression tests. This targeted curve selection minimized variability and focused on the most relevant data, enhancing the reliability of the analysis. Following the application of UVC and AI, tensile tests showed a 20–30% increase in ultimate stress. Similarly, compression tests revealed a 25% increase in transition stress, an 18–22% improvement in ultimate stress, and approximately a 12% rise in fracture stress. This research underscores the potential of combining AI, sustainable materials, and UVC technology to develop advanced composites for medical applications. The proposed methodology offers a robust framework for evaluating material performance while promoting the creation of eco-friendly, high-performance materials that meet the stringent standards of medical use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Design, Manufacturing, Characterization, and Application)
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