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Polymers
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Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing
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Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1728

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lu Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: polymer processing; micro- and nano-manufacturing; flame-retardant polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer molding (injection molding, hot embrassing, etc.) is a key process in mass-producing complex plastic components for industries dealing with automotives, mobile phones, and household appliances. Recent advancements, such as micro/nano-injection molding, intelligent molding, and ultrasonic/air/fluid-assisted plasticization and molding, have greatly enhanced product functionality and performance. Additionally, sensors and actuators, engineering simulations, and artificial intelligence have also helped improve our understanding of the process, as well as enhance the quality and efficiency during polymer molding processes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest studies on “Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing”. We sincerely invite researchers to contribute to this Special Issue by submitting related articles and review papers.

Dr. Lu Zhang
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

  • intelligent injection machine
    • extrusion-injection molding machine for LFT
    • energy-saving machine
    • ultra-fast injection machine
  • monitoring technology
    • sensor fusion for injection molding
    • smart and integrated in-mold sensors
  • rheology
    • rheology in injection molding
    • rheological characterization of polymer materials
  • mold technology
    • optimization of mold-cooling channels
    • conformal cooling channel design
    • quick-change mold
    • design optimization of sequential valve gating for HRS
    • thermoplastic/thermosetting-integrated mold
    • RHCM or variothermal mold
  • innovative molding process
    • multi-layer molding
    • micro-molding
    • multi-component (thermoplastic, thermoset, metal, ceramic) molding
    • foam-injection molding
  • sustainability
    • molding process using bioplastics
    • molding process using recycled polymers
  • materials
    • recycled materials
    • bioplastic materials
    • long-fiber thermoplastics
    • nanocomposites

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6013 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Injection Molding Processing Parameters on Chrome-Plated Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene-Based Automotive Parts: An Industrial Scale
by Yunus Emre Polat, Mustafa Oksuz, Aysun Ekinci, Murat Ates and Ismail Aydin
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1787; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131787 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 528
Abstract
In recent years, plastic decorative materials have been used in the automotive industry due to their advantages such as being environmentally friendly, aesthetic, light and economically affordable. Plastic decorative materials can exhibit high strength and metallic reflection with metal coatings. Chrome plating is [...] Read more.
In recent years, plastic decorative materials have been used in the automotive industry due to their advantages such as being environmentally friendly, aesthetic, light and economically affordable. Plastic decorative materials can exhibit high strength and metallic reflection with metal coatings. Chrome plating is generally preferred in the production of decorative plastic parts in the automotive industry. In this study, the effect of injection molding processing parameters on the metal–polymer adhesion of chrome-plated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) was investigated. The ABS-based front grille frames are fabricated by means of using an industrial-scale injection molding machine. Then, the fabricated ABS-based front grille frame was plated with chrome by means of the electroplating method. The metal–polymer adhesion was investigated as a function of the injection molding processing parameters by means of a cross-cut test and scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result, it was determined that the optimal injection process parameters, a cooling time of 18 s, a mold temperature of 70 °C, injection rates of 45-22-22-20-15-10 mm/s, and packing pressures of 110-100-100 bar, were effective in enhancing polymer–metal adhesion for the ABS-based front grille frame. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing)
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13 pages, 2360 KiB  
Article
Relation Between Injection Molding Conditions, Fiber Length, and Mechanical Properties of Highly Reinforced Long Fiber Polypropylene: Part II Long-Term Creep Performance
by Jon Haitz Badiola, U. Astobitza, M. Iturrondobeitia, A. Burgoa, J. Ibarretxe and A. Arriaga
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121630 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 545
Abstract
This study investigates the long-term mechanical performance of highly reinforced long glass fiber thermoplastic polypropylene composites, focusing on the effects of processing parameters, fiber length, and skin–core structures. Dynamic mechanical and creep analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of injection molding on [...] Read more.
This study investigates the long-term mechanical performance of highly reinforced long glass fiber thermoplastic polypropylene composites, focusing on the effects of processing parameters, fiber length, and skin–core structures. Dynamic mechanical and creep analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of injection molding on the final microstructure and long-term mechanical properties. The findings confirm that a significant microstructural change occurs at a fiber length of 1000 µm, which strongly influences the material’s mechanical behavior. Samples with fiber lengths above this threshold reveal greater creep resistance due to the reduced flowability that leads to more entangled, three-dimensional fiber networks in the core. This structure limits chain mobility and consequently improves the resistance to long-term deformation under load. Conversely, fiber lengths below 1000 µm promote a planar arrangement of fibers, which enhances chain relaxation, fiber orientation, and creep strain. Specifically, samples with fiber lengths exceeding 1000 µm exhibited up to a 15% lower creep strain compared to shorter fiber samples. Additionally, a direct relationship is observed between the findings in the viscoelastic response and quasi-static tensile properties from previous studies. Finally, the impact of the microstructure is more pronounced at low temperatures and becomes nearly negligible at high temperatures, indicating that beyond the glass transition temperature, the microstructural effect diminishes gradually until it becomes almost non-existent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing)
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16 pages, 4816 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Processing Methods and Nucleating Agents on the Wear Resistance and Crystallinity Behavior of Nylon 11
by Hu Lyu, Dongzhou Sun, Yue Li, Guoliang Yu, Shudi Liu, Pengfei Huo, Dawei Zhang and Xianzhi Kong
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081073 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
Nylon 11 is widely used in abrasion-resistant coatings due to its excellent wear resistance and processability. Here, the effects of different processing methods (pre-treatment temperatures, melting temperatures, and heating programs) and nucleating agents (silica, talcum powder, and montmorillonite) on the crystallinity behavior and [...] Read more.
Nylon 11 is widely used in abrasion-resistant coatings due to its excellent wear resistance and processability. Here, the effects of different processing methods (pre-treatment temperatures, melting temperatures, and heating programs) and nucleating agents (silica, talcum powder, and montmorillonite) on the crystallinity behavior and wear resistance of Nylon 11 were systematically analyzed. The results show that pre-treating Nylon 11 at 80–100 °C enhances its wear resistance, and its friction coefficient drops to ~0.16. Melting temperature influences both the processing flowability and wear resistance of Nylon 11. Specifically, when the melting temperature exceeds 195 °C, wear resistance improves significantly and its friction coefficient decreases from 0.32 to 0.17. Moreover, variations in the heating program also affect the wear resistance of Nylon 11. Optimal wear resistance is achieved when Nylon 11 is held at both 165 °C and 185 °C for 10 min (friction coefficient: ~0.17). The nucleating agents (silica, talcum powder, and montmorillonite) do not change the crystalline morphology of Nylon 11, which predominantly exhibits an orthorhombic α-phase. However, as the content of nucleating agents increases (0–1 wt%), the crystallinity first rises and then declines, with its highest value being 46.48%. This work emphasizes the critical role of processing methods and nucleating agents in the wear resistance and crystallinity behavior of Nylon 11, providing valuable insights for their performance optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Molding and Processing)
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