Advanced Polyolefin Characterization: From Molecular Microstructure to Circular Applications
A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 6
Editors
Interests: NMR; characterization; chromatography; polyolefin; GPC; iCCD; CEF; TGIC; recycling; AI
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Background introduction: The global polyolefin industry is undergoing a critical paradigm shift from a linear model to a sustainable, circular economy. While the design of recyclable, upcyclable, and degradable synthetic polyolefins has accelerated, validating their true circularity relies entirely on rigorous analytical characterization. Understanding structure–property relationships, tracking degradation pathways, and analyzing polyolefin integrity through multiple mechanical or chemical recycling loops present unique analytical challenges. Traditional methods often fall short when applied to complex, heterogeneous, or degraded circular polyolefin systems.
Aim and scope: This Special Issue, "Advanced Polyolefin Characterization: From Molecular Microstructure to Circular Applications," aims to highlight the role of advanced analytical techniques in advancing polyolefin sustainability. We invite contributions that bridge the gap between material design and analytical validation. The scope encompasses novel methodologies for assessing polyolefin integrity, identifying contaminants, verifying chemical structures, and evaluating the environmental fate of synthetic polyolefins throughout their lifecycle, ensuring robust standardization and data-driven insights for the next generation of circular polyolefins.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Advanced applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and chromatography for tracking polyolefin structure, degradation and chemical recycling pathways.
- In situ and operando characterization of polyolefin weathering, photodegradation, and controlled end-of-life breakdown.
- Analytical methods for assessing material integrity, identifying micro-contaminants, and tracking polyolefins through mechanical and chemical recycling loops.
- Morphological, thermal, and structural characterization of complex recycled polyolefin blends and compatibilizers.
- Detection, quantification, and characterization of microplastics and the environmental fate of polyolefin additives.
- Development of green, low-energy, or solvent-free analytical methodologies for polyolefin testing.
- Application of AI in polyolefin characterization and predictive degradation modeling.
- New testing protocols and standardization efforts for evaluating the synthetic polyolefin materials.
Dr. Zhe Zhou
Dr. Rongjuan Cong
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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-anonymized 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
- polyolefin
- circularity
- characterization
- sustainability
- recycling
- microplastics
- degradation
- standardization
- NMR
- chromatography
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