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Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2025) | Viewed by 13533

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alberto García-Peñas

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Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, 26, 28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Interests: polymer sciences; nanohybrids; smart materials
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am cordially inviting you to contribute to a Special Issue of Polymers marking the upcoming Polymer Connect-2024 conference. The Special Issue, titled "Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024", will capture cutting-edge advancements and innovative research presented at this conference in the field of polymer science.

Polymer Connect-2024 will attract a diverse audience of industry professionals and academic experts interested in exploring the latest technologies and developments in polymer science. Through oral presentations and posters, participants can engage with a wide array of themes, including, but not limited to, the following:

The characterization of synthetic and natural polymers;
Polymers in chemistry;
Polymer hybrids and nanocomposites;
Polymer biomaterials and tissue engineering;
Polymers for human health;
Biomedical and biodegradable polymers;
Polymer recycling and re-use;
Polymers in the environment;
Functional polymers;
Polymers in energy.

This conference is a unique platform for professionals from various sectors of the polymer and material science industry to collaborate, exchange ideas, and showcase their latest innovations. Attendees can network with peers, explore potential collaborations, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and developments shaping the future of polymer science.

We believe that your expertise and contributions would greatly enrich the content of this Special Issue. Your research interests align closely with the themes and objectives of the conference, making your insights invaluable to our readership. We invite you to submit a manuscript for consideration, highlighting your research findings, insights, and innovations in the field of polymer science.

We look forward to your participation in and contribution to this exciting endeavour.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alberto García-Peñas
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 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

polymers
emerging trends
advanced materials
nanocomposites
biomaterials
hydrogels
resins
innovation

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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37 pages, 7023 KB

Open AccessArticle

Data-Driven AI Approach for Optimizing Processes and Predicting Mechanical Properties of Boron Nitride Nanoplatelet-Reinforced PLA Nanocomposites

by Sundarasetty Harishbabu, Joy Djuansjah, P. S. Rama Sreekanth, A. Praveen Kumar, Borhen Louhichi, Santosh Kumar Sahu, It Ee Lee and Qamar Wali

Polymers 2026, 18(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020185 - 9 Jan 2026

Viewed by 828

Abstract

This research explores the optimization of mechanical properties and predictive modeling of polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNPs) using data-driven machine learning (ML) models. PLA-BNNP composites were fabricated through injection molding, with a focus on how key processing parameters influence their mechanical performance. A Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was applied to assess the effects of BNNP composition (0.02 wt.% and 0.04 wt.%), injection temperature (135–155 °C), injection speed (50–70 mm/s), and pressure (30–50 bar) on properties such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness. The results indicated that a 0.04 wt.% BNNP loading improved tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness by 18.6%, 32.7%, and 20.5%, respectively, compared to pure PLA. Taguchi analysis highlighted that higher BNNP concentrations, along with optimal injection temperatures, improved all mechanical properties, although excessive temperatures compromised tensile strength and modulus, while enhancing hardness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that injection temperature was the dominant factor for tensile strength (68.88%) and Young’s modulus (86.39%), while BNNP composition played a more significant role in influencing hardness (78.83%). Predictive models were built using machine learning (ML) models such as Random Forest Regression (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Among the ML models, XGBoost demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy, achieving R² values above 98% for tensile strength, 92–93% for Young’s modulus, and 96% for hardness, with low error metrics i.e., Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). These findings underscore the potential of using BNNP reinforcement and machine learning-driven property prediction to enhance PLA nanocomposites’ mechanical performance, making them viable for applications in lightweight packaging, biomedical implants, consumer electronics, and automotive components, offering sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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15 pages, 6869 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Cork Waste Processing in the Fabrication of Polymer Composites by Additive Manufacturing

by Alessandro Innocenti, Patricia Marzo Gago, Pedro Burgos Pintos, María de la Mata, Alberto Sanz de León and Sergio I. Molina

Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233167 - 28 Nov 2025

Viewed by 649

Abstract

This work evaluates the influence of processing on the production of various cork composites. Cork agro-waste with different particle sizes, namely fine cork (FC, D_p < 250 µm) and coarse cork (CC, 1 mm < D_p < 2 mm), was valorized. It was possible to process composites containing up to 20 wt.% FC and 15 wt.% CC using a twin-screw extruder. These composites were subsequently manufactured via large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) using fused granular fabrication (FGF). The effects of cork concentration and processing duration in the extruder on particle integration, as well as on the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of the composites, were studied. As expected, a linear decrease in mechanical properties was observed with increasing cork content. For the same cork content and longer processing durations, properties were similar for FC and CC composites. Shorter processing durations in the extruder minimized degradation of FC. However, partial degradation occurred during FGF printing, leading to the formation of composite foams with increased porosity, lower density, and enhanced thermal insulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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13 pages, 3091 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimisation of Clutch Disc Friction Material Using a Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network

by George Bălășoiu, Cristian Munteniță, Valentin Tiberiu Amortila and Larisa Titire

Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3588; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243588 - 22 Dec 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of four clutch disc friction materials (from different manufacturers) used in manual transmissions. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were employed for the microstructural and chemical characterisation of the friction materials. To reveal the tribological properties of the selected clutch discs, three measurements of the friction coefficient between the material and the cast iron disc were conducted. The findings were employed to construct an artificial neural network using Easy NN software (V 14), with the objective of optimising the friction material. The chemical composition of the friction materials was employed as the input data, whereas the minimum, maximum, and average values of the friction coefficient, as well as the temperature generated during friction, were utilised as the output data. To assess the efficacy of the neural network, the correlation between the importance of input data and their sensitivity to output data was examined. It was determined that the model with three hidden layers exhibited a notable correlation between the six most influential chemical elements and their sensitivity. Based on this neural model, the chemical composition of the friction disc materials was optimised using the “Query” mode, aiming to minimise discrepancies in friction coefficients and temperature development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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27 pages, 14209 KB

Open AccessArticle

Statistical and Block Copolymers of n-Dodecyl and Allyl Isocyanate via Titanium-Mediated Coordination Polymerization: A Route to Polyisocyanates with Improved Thermal Stability

by Maria Iatrou, Aikaterini Katara, Panagiotis A. Klonos, Apostolos Kyritsis and Marinos Pitsikalis

Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3537; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243537 - 19 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1473

Abstract

Well-defined amorphous/semi-crystalline statistical copolymers of n-dodecyl isocyanate, DDIC, and allyl isocyanate, ALIC, were synthesized via coordination polymerization using the chiral half-titanocene complex CpTiCl₂(O-(S)-2-Bu) as an initiator. In the frame of the terminal model, the monomer reactivity ratios of the statistical copolymers were calculated using both well-known linear graphical methods and the computer program COPOINT. The molecular and structural characteristics of the copolymers were also calculated. The thermal properties of these samples were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, measurements. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of the statistical copolymers was studied by thermogravimetric analysis, TGA, and differential thermogravimetry, DTG, and the activation energy of this process was calculated by employing several theoretical models. Moreover, block copolymers with the structure P[DDIC-b-(DDIC-co-ALIC)] were synthesized by sequential addition of monomers and coordination polymerization methodologies. The samples were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, NMR, spectroscopy; size exclusion chromatography, SEC; and DSC. The thermal stability of the blocks was also studied by TGA and DTG and compared to the corresponding statistical copolymers, showing that the macromolecular architecture greatly affects the properties of the copolymers. A thiol-ene click post-polymerization reaction was performed to introduce aromatic groups along the polyisocyanate chain in order to improve the thermal stability of the parent polymers. Evidently, these statistical and block copolymers can be employed as precursors for the synthesis of novel polyisocyanate-based materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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16 pages, 7083 KB

Open AccessArticle

Wind Turbine Blade Material Behavior in Abrasive Wear Conditions

by Cristian Muntenita, Larisa Titire, Mariana Chivu, Geanina Podaru and Romeo Marin

Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3483; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243483 - 13 Dec 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2118

Abstract

The wind turbine blades are exposed, during functioning, to the abrasive wear generated by the impact with air-borne sand particles. In this work, samples of a commercial wind turbine blade, made of a multi-layered composite material, are subjected to abrasive wear tests, using an air streamed wearing particles test rig. Following the analysis of the tests’ results was found that the only protection against failure of the blade by abrasive damage is the surface layer. After its’ penetration, the layers below are quickly destroyed, leading to the blade destruction. The investigation of the main abrasive wear influencing factors—particles’ speed and acting time, showed that the particles’ speed is the most important. To prove that an artificial neural network-based model was used. Also, a method for improvement of the blade resistance to abrasive wear is proposed, consisting of applying on the blade’s surface of a polymeric foil. This offers supplementary protection of the surface layer, delaying its degradation. The tests performed on the protected samples prove the validity of the proposed method. Overall, the work showed the weakness of the blades’ resistance in case of working in abrasive wear conditions and identified an improving method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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13 pages, 7076 KB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Flow Estimation in Polymer Films during Orientational Drawing at the Local Heater

by Liubov Myasnikova, Yuri Kurakin, Vladimir Hilarov, Vyacheslav Marikhin, Maria Narykova and Elena Ivan’kova

Polymers 2024, 16(16), 2267; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16162267 - 10 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1600

Abstract

The optimization of the process of polymer film orientational drawing using the local heater was investigated. One of the problems with this technology is that the strength of the resulting fibers differs significantly from the theoretical estimates. It is assumed that one of the reasons is related to the peculiarity of this technology, when at the point of drawing the film is heated only on one side, which creates a temperature difference between the sides of the film in contact with the heater and the non-contact sides of the film in the air. Estimates show that even a small temperature difference of just 1 °C between these surfaces leads to a significant difference in the rate of plastic deformation of the corresponding near-surface layers. As a consequence, during hardening, in the stretching region, tensile stress is concentrated on the “cold” side of the film, and this effect can presumably lead to the generation of more defects overthere. It has been suggested that defects arising during first stage of hardening, namely, neck formation, can serve as a trigger for the formation of defects such as kink bands on the “cold” side with further orientational strengthening due to plastic deformation of the resulting fibrillar structure, at the boundaries of which microcracks are formed, leading to rupture of the oriented sample. The numerical calculation of heat propagation due to heat conduction in the film from the local surface of the heater is carried out and the temperature distribution along the thickness and width of the film during drawing is found. The temperature difference in the heated layer of the film between the contact and non-contact sides with the heater was calculated depending on the thickness of the film and the speed of its movement along the heater. It was found that the most homogeneous temperature distribution over the film thickness, which is required, by default, for the synchronous transformation of the unoriented initial folded lamellar structure into a fibrillar structure, is observed only for films with a thickness of less than 50 μm. The calculation allows us to scientifically justify the choice of orientation drawing speed and optimal thickness of the oriented polymer film, which is extremely important, for example, for obtaining super-strong and high-modulus UHMWPE filaments used in products for various purposes: from body armor to sports equipment and bioimplants, Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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Review

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40 pages, 2097 KB

Open AccessReview

Advances in Membranes Based on PLA and Derivatives for Oil–Water Separation

by Weijun Liang, Akshay Verma, Olga Martin, Gaurav Sharma and Alberto García-Peñas

Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3135; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233135 - 25 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1605

Abstract

The continuously growing amount of oily wastewater from industrial, domestic, and natural sources poses a major threat to water sustainability, and thus efficient oil–water separation techniques are of utmost relevance. Membrane separation has been a popular approach due to ease of handling, high performance, and versatility. Among all the membrane materials, polylactic acid (PLA) and its derivatives have been of interest as green materials because of their renewability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. PLA possesses special merits, including low density, high permeability, and high thermal stability. Despite its advantages, PLA also has some demerits, such as brittleness, low tensile strength, and poor heat resistance. These limitations are addressed by PLA-based membranes that are generally reinforced using fillers, surface modification, and structure optimization methods. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments of PLA and its derivatives for oil–water separation, with an emphasis on membrane design, fabrication methods, and porosity enhancement strategies. Some significant fabrication processes like Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS), Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation (NIPS), and Freeze Solidification Phase Separation (FSPS) are elaborately addressed. In addition, the review emphasizes methods to improve porosity, mechanical strength, and fouling resistance while maintaining biodegradability. By reviewing recent progress and remaining challenges, this review outlines the future potential of PLA membranes and aims to inspire more research on green, efficient oil–water separation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Polymer Engineering: Polymer Connect-2024)

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