Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 557
Special Issue Editors
Interests: portable electronics; hydrogels; soft elastomers; smart sensors; self-powered nanogenerators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: vulcanization; rubber nanocomposites; energy harvesting; sensors and actuators; magnetorheological elastomers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Multifunctional polymer composites are robustly engineered materials that exhibit two or more functional properties beyond basic structural support. These multifunctional aspects include mechanical toughness, electrical and thermal conductivity, self-healing, strain sensing, and energy harvesting. Integration of such multi-functionalities not only enhances the composite material's ability to respond to external stimuli, but also provides structural health, and adaptation to extreme environmental changes. The main components of polymer composites include polymer matrix, reinforcing fillers, and curatives. Here, the polymer matrix provides flexibility, lightweight, and the ability to respond to external mechanical stimuli. These polymer matrices can be elastomers, epoxy resin, polystyrene, and polyvinylidene fluoride. The reinforcing fillers enhance the structural and functional properties. Promising fillers include carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, silica, MXenes and titanium dioxide. Finally, curatives especially for the rubber matrix from the elastomer family are added. These curatives not only help to further improve their mechanical properties but also make them effective for industrial applications. Finally, the interface between the polymer matrix and fillers must be optimized for efficient load transfer and functionality.
Keeping the above concepts in mind, this Special Issue is open to research based on polymer composites and a demonstration of their multi-functional abilities. Moreover, this Special Issue will collect the latest literature with motivated industrially oriented research related to polymer composite materials. Moreover, the versatile research and development activities for academia require further efforts directed towards the subject of this Special Issue. The key aspects summarizing the scope of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:
- Development of multi-functional polymer composites.
- Studies using polymer matrixes such as elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, etc.
- Properties like mechanical, electrical, thermal, self-healing and self-cleaning mechanisms, bio-compatibility, and tribology, etc.
- Improved interfaces through pristine and modification of fillers or a polymer matrix.
- Three-dimensional and four-dimensional printing fabrication methods in polymer composites
- Industrial applications like portable sensors, energy harvesting and storage, wearable sensors, self-powered generators, flexible electronics, etc.
Dr. Vineet Kumar
Dr. Md Najib Alam
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- strain sensors
- polymer composites
- energy harvesting
- carbon nanomaterials
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