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Polymers
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Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion
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Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 6023

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michéle Dal Toé Casagrande

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Interests: new geotechnical materials; reinforcement; stabilization; fibers; polymers; soils; mining tailings; pavements; slopes; alternative materials; residues; life cycle analysis (LCA)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The methodology of fiber reinforcement is widely used to improve the physical, mechanical, chemical, structural, environmental, and other properties of general materials in engineering science for different applications; the polymer inclusion technique is also used to develop new composite materials.

This Special Issue of the open access journal Polymers aims to collect original research papers and reviews on the topic of “Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion”, comprising novel approaches, new methods, related concepts, solutions from renewable resources, alternatives to achieve superior performance and lower costs, and the development of new fiber and polymer composites, as well as mechanisms, applications, and technologies related to this theme in engineering science.

Prof. Dr. Michéle Dal Toé Casagrande
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • engineering
  • materials
  • composites
  • synthetic fibers
  • natural fibers
  • recycled materials
  • residues
  • polymers
  • biopolymers
  • additives
  • reinforcement
  • stabilization
  • sustainability
  • experimental analysis
  • modelling/simulation
  • life cycle analysis (LCA)
  • renewable recourses
  • properties

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5342 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Jute–Glass Ratio Effects on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of PP Hybrid Composites for Sustainable Automotive Applications
by Tunahan Özyer and Emre Demirci
Polymers 2025, 17(24), 3335; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17243335 - 17 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 805
Abstract
This study investigates polypropylene (PP)–based biocomposites reinforced with systematically varied jute and glass fiber ratios as sustainable, lightweight alternatives for semi-structural automotive parts. Four formulations (J20/G0, J15/G5, J10/G10, J5/G15) with a constant 20 wt% total fiber were produced by injection molding and characterized [...] Read more.
This study investigates polypropylene (PP)–based biocomposites reinforced with systematically varied jute and glass fiber ratios as sustainable, lightweight alternatives for semi-structural automotive parts. Four formulations (J20/G0, J15/G5, J10/G10, J5/G15) with a constant 20 wt% total fiber were produced by injection molding and characterized through mechanical, thermal, and morphological analyses. Tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact tests showed progressive improvements in strength, stiffness, and energy absorption with increasing glass fiber content, while ductility was maintained or slightly enhanced. SEM revealed a transition from fiber pull-out in jute-rich systems to fiber rupture and stronger matrix adhesion in glass-rich hybrids. Thermal analyses confirmed the benefits of hybridization: heat deflection temperature increased from 75 °C (J20/G0) to 103 °C (J5/G15), and thermogravimetry indicated improved stability and higher char residue. DSC showed negligible changes in crystallization and melting, confirming that fiber partitioning does not significantly affect PP crystallinity. Benchmarking demonstrated mechanical and thermal performance comparable to acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile–styrene–acrylate (ASA), widely used in automotive components. Finally, successful molding of a prototype exterior mirror cap from J20/G0 validated industrial processability. These findings highlight jute–glass hybrid PP composites as promising, sustainable alternatives to conventional engineering plastics for automotive engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion)
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27 pages, 8117 KB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Laminated Composites from Açaí Residues and Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane Matrix
by Jorge Bastos Gaby Filho, Maurício Maia Ribeiro, Douglas Santos Silva, Raí Felipe Pereira Junio, José de Ribamar Mouta Araújo, Roberto Paulo Barbosa Ramos, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Jean da Silva Rodrigues
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3219; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233219 - 3 Dec 2025
Viewed by 655
Abstract
This work presents the development and characterization of laminated composite panels produced from açaí residues and fibers, incorporated into a castor oil-based vegetable polyurethane matrix. The study aimed to evaluate the potential of these Amazonian agro-industrial residues as lignocellulosic reinforcement in sustainable materials. [...] Read more.
This work presents the development and characterization of laminated composite panels produced from açaí residues and fibers, incorporated into a castor oil-based vegetable polyurethane matrix. The study aimed to evaluate the potential of these Amazonian agro-industrial residues as lignocellulosic reinforcement in sustainable materials. The manufacturing process was carried out by manual lamination and cold pressing, following the recommendations of ABNT NBR 14810-2:2018. The physical (moisture, density, and swelling) and mechanical (perpendicular tensile and static flexural) properties of the resulting panels were analyzed. The results revealed an average moisture content of 6.23% and a 24 h swelling of 2.76%, which are values within and well below the regulatory limits, respectively. The perpendicular tensile strength (0.49 N/mm2) exceeded the minimum required value, indicating good interfacial adhesion and internal cohesion. However, the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity (2.4 N/mm2 and 1323 N/mm2) were below the standards due to the absence of oriented fibers and density heterogeneity. It is concluded that the composite has high potential for indoor applications with low structural stress, standing out for its lightness, dimensional stability and environmental viability in the use of açaí residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion)
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23 pages, 3279 KB  
Article
Assessment of the Environmental Feasibility of Utilizing Hemp Fibers in Composite Production
by Denis da Silva Miranda, Douglas Alexandre Casetta, Leonardo Coelho Simon and Luiz Kulay
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152103 - 31 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2182
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of incorporating hemp fibers into composites for manufacturing industrial parts. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of producing a traditional polymer matrix composite containing glass fibers was compared to that of producing a counterpart from natural hemp fibers. The [...] Read more.
This study investigated the impact of incorporating hemp fibers into composites for manufacturing industrial parts. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of producing a traditional polymer matrix composite containing glass fibers was compared to that of producing a counterpart from natural hemp fibers. The investigation concluded that the partial replacement of synthetic fibers with biomass reduced the GWP of the product by up to 25% without compromising its mechanical properties. This study also quantified and discussed the GWP of intermediate products obtained from alternative routes, such as the manufacture of hemp stalks and pellets. In these cases, the findings showed that the amount of CO2 absorbed during plant growth exceeded the emissions related to soil preparation, farming, and processing of hemp stalks by up to 15 times, and the processing of row hemp bales into pellets could result in an even “greener” product. This study highlights the importance of using bio-based inputs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the materials manufacturing industry and concludes that even partial substitutions of synthetic inputs with natural fibers can show significant reductions in this type of environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion)
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Review

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35 pages, 7678 KB  
Review
Mechanical and Durability Characteristics of Particulate-Filled Recycled Thermoplastic Composites (RTCs): A Comprehensive Review
by Md Sabbrojjaman, Allan Manalo, Wahid Ferdous and Omar Alajarmeh
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3161; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233161 - 27 Nov 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
Globally, over 350 million tonnes of thermoplastic waste are generated annually, with more than 60% either landfilled or mismanaged. This attracts innovative pathways to increase their recyclability, among which particulate-filled recycled thermoplastic composites (RTCs) are emerging as a potential waste reuse strategy for [...] Read more.
Globally, over 350 million tonnes of thermoplastic waste are generated annually, with more than 60% either landfilled or mismanaged. This attracts innovative pathways to increase their recyclability, among which particulate-filled recycled thermoplastic composites (RTCs) are emerging as a potential waste reuse strategy for diverse civil and industrial applications. This review systematically analyses the current understanding of the physical, mechanical, and durability performance of RTCs, focusing on how various particulate filler types, content, and interfacial compatibility influence key properties. Reported studies show that incorporating particulate organic or inorganic fillers such as waste glass, sand, wood flour, etc., can increase density by 10–45%, tensile and flexural moduli by 30–120%, and thermal stability by up to 40%, though strength and ductility often decrease by 15–50% due to poor filler–matrix adhesion. This review further evaluates durability enhancements under prolonged exposure to water, thermal, and UV radiation, where filler addition reduces water absorption and UV degradation by 20–60%. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in optimising interfacial bonding, long-term performance modelling, and scalability for civil infrastructure. This review also outlines research directions to advance high-performance, sustainable RTCs through a structured review approach using defined keywords on recycled thermoplastics, fillers, and durability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Materials: Polymers and Fibers Inclusion)
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