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Advanced Polymer Composites: Structure and Mechanical Properties

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 187

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Türkiye
Interests: metallurgical and materials engineering; engineering and technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Türkiye
Interests: metal matrix composites; milling; HEA alloys; powder metallurgy; mechanical properties; microstructure; tribology; electroless coating; nanomaterials; AL alloys

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Guest Editor Assistant
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Türkiye
Interests: metal matrix composites; milling; mechanical properties; radiation shielding; HEA alloys; powder metallurgy; ballistic behaviours; Al alloys; electroless coating; microstructure; machining

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites are increasingly recognized as essential materials for lightweight, durable, and multifunctional structures in diverse industries. Their performance depends strongly on the interplay between matrix and reinforcement, interfacial adhesion, and the resulting hierarchical architectures. Recent advances in nanofillers, hybrid reinforcements, and 3D composite architectures have expanded design possibilities, enabling materials with enhanced strength, toughness, wear resistance, and adaptive functionalities.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research on the relationship between structure and mechanical properties of polymer composites across different scales and configurations. Topics of interest include microstructural design, interfacial engineering, processing–structure–property correlations, fracture and fatigue mechanisms, viscoelastic and time-dependent responses, as well as durability under environmental loading. Contributions addressing 3D-printed composites, architected lattices, hierarchical and multifunctional systems, and composites with smart or self-healing features are especially encouraged.

We also welcome studies on sustainable and bio-based composites, recycling and circular design strategies, and application-oriented case studies in the aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, and biomedical sectors. Both original research and comprehensive reviews are invited. By gathering diverse contributions, this Special Issue seeks to advance fundamental understanding and practical applications, promoting innovative approaches for the next generation of polymer composites.

Dr. Onur Güler
Dr. Müslim Çelebi
Guest Editors

Dr. Abdullah Hasan Karabacak
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

  • polymer composites
  • structure–property relationships
  • mechanical performance
  • interfacial engineering
  • 3D composites and architected materials 
  • fracture and fatigue
  • viscoelasticity and durability
  • multifunctional composites
  • sustainable and bio-based materials
  • advanced manufacturing and additive processes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 3529 KB  
Article
Achieving High-Performance Polypropylene-Based Synthetic Paper with High-Modulus Organic Oligomer and Biaxial Stretching Force Field
by Zhenkun Wang, Quanjia Du, Weiyouran Hong, Guiying Yu, Haoran Wang, Yanshan Feng, Xinyu Chen, Hongrun Li, Shaoyun Guo and Chunhai Li
Polymers 2025, 17(21), 2951; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212951 - 5 Nov 2025
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Abstract
The widespread replacement of cellulose paper with polypropylene (PP)-based synthetic paper has been hindered by the relatively low stiffness and modulus of PP. Conventional approaches that incorporate rigid inorganic fillers can enhance the modulus but typically compromise processability and mechanical performance. In this [...] Read more.
The widespread replacement of cellulose paper with polypropylene (PP)-based synthetic paper has been hindered by the relatively low stiffness and modulus of PP. Conventional approaches that incorporate rigid inorganic fillers can enhance the modulus but typically compromise processability and mechanical performance. In this work, we propose a dual strategy by introducing high-modulus organic hydrogenated resin fillers (C9) and applying a biaxial stretching force field. The biaxial stretching process not only promotes PP crystallization but also significantly improves the uniform dispersion of C9 fillers. As a result, a composite paper with ultrafine C9 dispersion and a crystalline self-reinforced structure was successfully fabricated. The composite exhibits a modulus that is 38% higher than that of biaxially stretched neat PP and 218% higher than that of unstretched neat PP. Furthermore, under biaxial stretching, the C9 fillers impart a toughening effect, effectively overcoming the conventional stiffness–toughness trade-off. This work therefore provides a promising strategy for the scalable fabrication of high-performance PP-based synthetic paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Composites: Structure and Mechanical Properties)
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