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New Insight into Polymer Dynamics

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 3818

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological Unversity, Singapore City, Singapore
Interests: optoelectronic film materials and quantum device designs; theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations of low-dimensional systems and nanoporous materials; polymer dielectric composites for electric insulation and radar absorption/transmission; multiphysics finite-element simulations of electrical equipment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Molecular configuration, electronic properties (electronic-states) and thermodynamic properties of polymeric molecules establish foundations for the various macroscopic properties of polymer materials, such as electrical insulation, infrared absorption, water absorption and elasticity. Non-bonding interactions, aggregation states and the energy (potential energy and kinetic energy) evolution of polymer molecular chains in polymer materials account for the intrinsic mechanism behind material physical characteristics such as thermal stability, phase transition, and electrical or mechanical strength. The first-principle calculations and molecular dynamics simulations are capable of building up molecular-level models for polymer-based materials in order to evaluate and predict their electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, whilst elucidating molecular-scale mechanisms and regulating the relationship between micro-structure and macro-properties to lay theoretical foundations for the optimization and design of advanced and applicable polymer-hosted composites.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to report the latest research achievements on polymer modification or design through theoretical calculations or molecular dynamics simulations, while the content of published articles can also be extended to experimental research. We especially welcome research papers that combine theoretical and experimental approaches.

Dr. Weifeng Sun
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 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

  • polymer dielectrics
  • first-principle calculation
  • molecular dynamics
  • electrical insulation
  • cable accessory elastomer
  • polyethylene
  • polypropylene
  • epoxy resin
  • silicone rubber
  • chemical modification
  • polymer–matrix nanocomposite

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2725 KiB  
Article
Silica Aerogel-Modified Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers to Reduce Heat Flux in Heat Storage Tanks of Greenhouse Buildings
by Yuze Li, Yongping Zhang and Wenbo Sun
Polymers 2024, 16(15), 2219; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16152219 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1273
Abstract
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers have specific characteristics such as thermal insulation, weatherproofing, and sunlight resistance and therefore are appropriate to be applied as insulation materials for various industries, especially in greenhouse construction. The heat source in greenhouse buildings that operate independently in the heating [...] Read more.
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers have specific characteristics such as thermal insulation, weatherproofing, and sunlight resistance and therefore are appropriate to be applied as insulation materials for various industries, especially in greenhouse construction. The heat source in greenhouse buildings that operate independently in the heating network comes from heat storage tanks. In the present study, employing thermal field numerical simulations, we investigate the heat flux of a cylindrical heat storage tank with silica aerogel-modified PAN nanofibers as thermal insulation materials. The geometric scale of the tank body, thermal insulation material thickness, and outdoor temperature are optimized to improve thermal insulation. The significant discrepancy in heat flux at different parts of the heat storage tank leads to the extreme heat flux arising at the water–gas interface on the inner and outer walls. It is indicated that the heat flux distribution can be effectively ameliorated by modifying the scale of the tank body to retain the overall water temperature. In particular, effective insulation can merely be acquired when the thermal conductivity of the insulation material is below 3.3 W·m−1·K−1. Eventually, the heat storage tank is optimized to store 1400 L water at 100 °C with a radius of 0.6 m and a thermal insulation thickness of 50 mm at an outdoor temperature of −10 °C, which can maintain excellent thermal insulation for 8 and 24 h at 87.7 and 69.9 °C, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insight into Polymer Dynamics)
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17 pages, 6516 KiB  
Article
Nonlinear Conductivity and Thermal Stability of Anti-Corona Epoxy Resin Nanocomposites
by Yanli Liu, Junguo Gao, Ning Guo, Jiaming Sun, Haitao Hu and Xiaohong Chi
Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091296 - 5 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1837
Abstract
The long-term operation of motors induces substantial alterations in the surface conductivity and nonlinear coefficient of anti-corona paint, diminishing its efficacy and jeopardizing the longevity of large motors. Hence, the development of high-performance anti-corona paint holds paramount importance in ensuring motor safety. In [...] Read more.
The long-term operation of motors induces substantial alterations in the surface conductivity and nonlinear coefficient of anti-corona paint, diminishing its efficacy and jeopardizing the longevity of large motors. Hence, the development of high-performance anti-corona paint holds paramount importance in ensuring motor safety. In this study, we integrate two nano-fillers, namely silicon carbide (SiC) and organic montmorillonite (O-MMT), into a composite matrix comprising micron silicon carbide and epoxy resin (SiC/EP). Subsequently, three distinct types of anti-corona paint are formulated: SiC/EP, Nano-SiC/EP, and O-MMT/SiC/EP. Remarkably, O-MMT/SiC/EP exhibits a glass transition temperature about 25 °C higher than that of SiC/EP, underscoring its superior thermal properties. Moreover, the introduction of nano-fillers markedly augments the surface conductivity of the anti-corona paint. Aging tests, conducted across varying temperatures, unveil a notable reduction in the fluctuation range of surface conductivity post-aging. Initially, the nonlinear coefficients exhibit a declining trend, succeeded by an ascending trajectory. The O-MMT/SiC/EP composite displays a maximum nonlinearity coefficient of 1.465 and a minimum of 1.382. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanofillers amplifies the dielectric thermal stability of epoxy resin composites, with O-MMT/SiC/EP showcasing the pinnacle of thermal endurance. Overall, our findings elucidate the efficacy of nano-fillers in enhancing the performance and longevity of anti-corona paint, particularly highlighting the exceptional attributes of the O-MMT/SiC/EP composite in bolstering motor safety through improved thermal stability and electrical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insight into Polymer Dynamics)
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