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Polymers
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Damping Mechanisms in Polymers and Polymer Composites
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Damping Mechanisms in Polymers and Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 3957

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paweł Dunaj

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, 70-310 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: machine tools; finite element method; structural dynamics; vibration analysis; composite structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Izabela Irska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Technologies, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastow 19 Av., 70-310 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: polymer nanocomposites; synergistic effect; mineral nanofillers; polymer blends; poly(ethylene 2; 5-furanoate); post-consumer PET-G foils; copolymers; block copolymers; thermoplastic elastomers; copolyesters

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of polymers and polymer-based composites has constantly increased over the last several decades. Several examples show that composite materials have entered the industry as a viable alternative to traditional materials. They offer a high strength-to-weight ratio, high impact strength, corrosion resistance, and excellent durability. Polymers, as a class of materials, are also known for their unique damping properties and have been widely used to effectively reduce excessive vibrations in a variety of structural applications.

This Special Issue focuses on damping mechanisms present in polymers and polymer composite structures. Moreover, it aims to highlight the progress in the properties and application of these materials in dynamically loaded structures. We invite researchers to share their latest investigations in the form of research articles and reviews.

Dr. Paweł Dunaj
Dr. Izabela Irska
Guest Editors

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

  • polymers
  • polymer composites
  • damping
  • vibration eliminators
  • dampers
  • damping layers
  • vibrations
  • viscoelasticity
  • dynamic properties

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5509 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Mechanical and Impact Properties of Flax/Glass and Jute/Glass Hybrid Composites Through KOH Alkaline Treatment
by Sultan Ullah, Arvydas Palevicius, Giedrius Janusas and Zeeshan Ul-Hasan
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060804 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
This research investigates the influence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment on the mechanical, flexural, and impact properties of flax/glass and jute/glass hybrid composites. Hybrid composite materials have been developed, incorporating natural fibers that are both treated and untreated by KOH, with glass fiber [...] Read more.
This research investigates the influence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment on the mechanical, flexural, and impact properties of flax/glass and jute/glass hybrid composites. Hybrid composite materials have been developed, incorporating natural fibers that are both treated and untreated by KOH, with glass fiber within an epoxy matrix. Natural fibers, such as flax and jute, were chemically treated using different KOH concentrations and immersion times specific to each fiber type. Following the treatment, both fibers were rinsed with distilled water and subsequently dried. The natural fiber’s chemical interaction was analysed using FTIR. Hybrid composites were fabricated via the integration of intercalated layers of natural fibers and glass fiber using hand layup followed by compression molding. Mechanical properties, including impact resistance, flexural strength, elastic modulus, and tensile strength, were evaluated in accordance with ASTM guidelines. KOH-treated flax/glass composites (T-F2G2) demonstrated enhanced fiber–matrix bonding, indicated by elevated tensile strength (118.16 MPa) and flexural strength (168.94 MPa) relative to untreated samples. The impact strength of T-F2G2 composites increased to 39.33 KJ/m2 due to the removal of impurities and exposure of hydroxyl groups, which interact with K+ ions in KOH, thereby improving their mechanical properties. SEM analysis of cracked surfaces confirmed enhanced bonding and reduced fiber pull-out, indicating improved interfacial compatibility. The findings demonstrate that KOH treatment effectively preserves cellulose integrity and enhances fiber–matrix interactions, positioning it as a viable alternative to NaOH for hybrid composites suitable for lightweight and environmentally sustainable industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damping Mechanisms in Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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20 pages, 11339 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Dynamic Properties of Multi-Layer Glass Fabric Sandwich Panels
by Arkadiusz Charuk, Izabela Irska and Paweł Dunaj
Polymers 2024, 16(21), 3074; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16213074 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 945
Abstract
Sandwich panels are key components of many lightweight structures. They are often subjected to time-varying loads, which can cause various types of vibrations that adversely affect the functionality of the structure. That is why it is of such importance to predict the dynamic [...] Read more.
Sandwich panels are key components of many lightweight structures. They are often subjected to time-varying loads, which can cause various types of vibrations that adversely affect the functionality of the structure. That is why it is of such importance to predict the dynamic properties of both the panels and the structures made of them at the design stage. This paper presents finite element modeling of the dynamic properties (i.e., natural frequencies, mode shapes, and frequency response functions) of sandwich panels made of glass fabric impregnated with phenolic resin. The model reproducing the details of the panel structure was built using two-dimensional, quadrilateral, isoparametric plane elements. Afterwards, the model was subjected to an updating procedure based on experimentally determined frequency response functions. As a result, the average relative error for natural frequencies achieved numerically was 5.0%. Finally, a cabinet model consisting of the analyzed panels was built and experimentally verified. The relative error between the numerically and experimentally obtained natural frequencies was on average 5.9%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damping Mechanisms in Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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15 pages, 7023 KiB  
Article
Damage Resistance of Kevlar® Fabric, UHMWPE, PVB Multilayers Subjected to Concentrated Drop-Weight Impact
by Manal A. Nael, Dmitriy A. Dikin, Natnael Admassu, Omar Bahgat Elfishi and Simona Percec
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121693 - 14 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1959
Abstract
The impact resistance of layered polymer structures using polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in combination with Kevlar® fabric and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were fabricated and tested. Methods of wet impregnation and hot-press impregnation and consolidation of fabric with PVB and UHMWPE were [...] Read more.
The impact resistance of layered polymer structures using polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in combination with Kevlar® fabric and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were fabricated and tested. Methods of wet impregnation and hot-press impregnation and consolidation of fabric with PVB and UHMWPE were used to manufacture multilayer constructs. All sandwich constructs were fixed to the surface of ballistic clay and subject to a free drop-weight test with a conical impactor having a small contact area. All tests were made at the same impact energy of 9.3 J and velocity of 2.85 m/s. The change in the resistance force was recorded using a piezoelectric force sensor at the time intervals of 40 μs. Using experimental force–time history, the change in the impactor’s velocity, the depth of impactor penetration, the energy transformation at various stages of impactor interaction with the sample, and other parameters were obtained. Three indicators were considered as the main criteria for the effectiveness of a sample’s resistance to impact: (1) minimum deformation, bulging, of the panel backside at the moment of impact, (2) minimum absorption of impact energy per areal density, and (3) minimal or, better yet, no destruction of structural integrity. Under the tested conditions, the rigid Kevlar–PVB–Kevlar sandwich at the frontside and relatively soft but flexible UHMWPE–Kevlar–UHMWPE layers in the middle helped to localize and absorb impact energy, while the backside Kevlar–PVB–Kevlar sandwich minimized local bulging providing the best overall performance. The front layer damage area was very shallow and less than two impactor tip diameters. The backside bulging was also less than in any other tested configurations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Damping Mechanisms in Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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