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Polymers
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Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition
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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 1471

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vineet Kumar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: portable electronics; hydrogels; soft elastomers; smart sensors; self-powered nanogenerators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Md Najib Alam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
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

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

  • strain sensors
  • polymer composites
  • energy harvesting
  • carbon nanomaterials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Study of Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen Recovery Using Polymeric Thin-Film Composite Membranes for Continuous Operation of a Hybrid Membrane System
by Shirin Shahgodari, Joan Llorens and Jordi Labanda
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1696; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121696 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 215
Abstract
This study examined total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) rejection by two reverse osmosis (RO) and two nanofiltration (NF) membranes as a function of pH for three ammonium salts to optimize conditions for a hybrid membrane system that can produce high-purity TAN streams suitable for [...] Read more.
This study examined total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) rejection by two reverse osmosis (RO) and two nanofiltration (NF) membranes as a function of pH for three ammonium salts to optimize conditions for a hybrid membrane system that can produce high-purity TAN streams suitable for reuse. The results showed that TAN rejection was significantly influenced by membrane type, feed pH, and the ammonium salt used. This study represents the first attempt to simulate real manure wastewater conditions typically found in pig manure. TAN rejection for (NH4)2SO4 and NH4HCO3 reached up to 95% at pH values below 7, with the SW30 membrane showing the highest performance (99.5%), attributed to effective size exclusion and electrostatic repulsion of SO42− and HCO3− ions. In contrast, lower rejection was observed for NH4Cl, particularly with the MPF-34 membrane, due to its higher molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), which diminishes both exclusion mechanisms. TAN rejection decreased markedly with increasing pH across the BW30, NF90, and MPF-34 membranes as the proportion of uncharged NH3 increased. The lowest rejection rates (<15%) were recorded at pH 11.5 for both NF membranes. These results reveal a notable shift in separation behavior, where NH3 permeation under alkaline conditions becomes dominant over the commonly reported NH4+ retention at low pH. This novel insight offers a new perspective for optimizing membrane-based ammonia recovery in systems simulating realistic manure wastewater conditions. TAN recovery was evaluated using a hybrid membrane system, where NF membranes operated at high pH promoted NH3 permeation, and the SW30 membrane at pH 6.5 enabled TAN rejection as (NH4)2SO4. This hybrid system insight offers a new perspective for optimizing membrane-based ammonia recovery in systems simulating realistic manure wastewater conditions. Based on NH3 permeation and membrane characteristics, the NF90 membrane was operated at pH 9.5, achieving a TAN recovery of 48.3%, with a TAN concentration of 11.7 g/L, corresponding to 0.9% nitrogen. In contrast, the MPF-34 membrane was operated at pH 11.5. The NF90–SW30 system also achieved a TAN recovery of 48.3%, yielding 11.7 g/L of TAN with a nitrogen content of 1.22%. These nitrogen concentrations indicate that both retentate streams are suitable for use as liquid fertilizers in the form of (NH4)2SO4. A preliminary economic assessment estimated the chemical consumption cost at 0.586 EUR/kg and 0.729 EUR/kg of (NH4)2SO4 produced for the NF90–SW30 and MPF-34–SW30 systems, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition)
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36 pages, 12446 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Diffusion Induced Fiber–Matrix Interface Damages in Adhesively Bonded Polymer Composites
by Dudu Mertgenç Yoldaş
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121672 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 317
Abstract
Composite materials have the advantages of high strength and low weight, and are therefore used in many areas. However, in humid and marine environments, mechanical properties may deteriorate due to moisture diffusion, especially in glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced [...] Read more.
Composite materials have the advantages of high strength and low weight, and are therefore used in many areas. However, in humid and marine environments, mechanical properties may deteriorate due to moisture diffusion, especially in glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). This study investigated the damage formation and changes in mechanical properties of single-layer adhesive-bonded GFRP and CFRP connections under the effect of sea water. In the experiment, 0/90 orientation, twill-woven GFRP (7 ply) and CFRP (8 ply) plates were produced as prepreg using the hand lay-up method in accordance with ASTM D5868-01 standard. CNC Router was used to cut 36 samples were cut from the plates produced for the experiments. The samples were kept in sea water taken from the Aegean Sea, at 3.3–3.7% salinity and 23.5 °C temperature, for 1, 2, 3, 6, and 15 months. Moisture absorption was monitored by periodic weighings; then, the connections were subjected to three-point bending tests according to the ASTM D790 standard. The damages were analyzed microscopically with SEM (ZEISS GEMINI SEM 560). As a result of 15 months of seawater storage, moisture absorption reached 4.83% in GFRP and 0.96% in CFRP. According to the three-point bending tests, the Young modulus of GFRP connections decreased by 25.23% compared to dry samples; this decrease was 11.13% in CFRP. Moisture diffusion and retention behavior were analyzed according to Fick’s laws, and the moisture transfer mechanism of single-lap adhesively bonded composites under the effect of seawater was evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 8937 KiB  
Article
Robust Composites Based on Silicone Rubber for Self-Powered Piezoelectric Nanogenerators
by Vineet Kumar, Md Najib Alam, Siraj Azam and Sang Shin Park
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070977 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 566
Abstract
Obtaining robust power density through piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) is very challenging. Challenges include achieving good mechanical stability, optimum stiffness, reasonable voltage generation, limited heat dissipation, and power density as needed. This work focused exactly on these areas, and hybrid filler emerged as a [...] Read more.
Obtaining robust power density through piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) is very challenging. Challenges include achieving good mechanical stability, optimum stiffness, reasonable voltage generation, limited heat dissipation, and power density as needed. This work focused exactly on these areas, and hybrid filler emerged as a promising candidate among the composites studied. For example, hybrid fillers exhibited optimized properties suitable for self-powered engineering applications. The composites fabricated in this work were based on titanium oxide (TiO2), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and silicone rubber (SR) as a host matrix. The results showed that TiO2 represents a good reinforcing filler, while MoS2 exerts a lubricating effect, improving the composites’ mechanical strength and elongation at break. For example, the compressive modulus at 8 per hundred parts of rubber (phr) was 2.39 MPa (TiO2), 1.62 MPa (MoS2), and 2.1 MPa (hybrid filler). Similarly, the hysteresis loss at 5 phr was 20.09 J/m (TiO2), 21.56 J/m (MoS2), and 20.48 J/m (hybrid filler). Moreover, the elongation at break at 8 phr was 150% (TiO2), 194% (MoS2), and 170% (hybrid filler). In the same way, the electro-mechanical properties obtained were also robust. For example, the voltage output was ~22 mV (TiO2), ~35 mV (MoS2), and ~46 mV (hybrid filler). Moreover, the PENGs developed in this work generated power. For example, the power density was ~0.55 pW/cm2 (TiO2), ~1.03 pW/cm2 (MoS2), and ~1.56 pW/cm2 (hybrid filler). Finally, the piezoelectric coefficient of the PENGs was 40 pC/N (TiO2), 112 pC/N (MoS2), and 160 pC/N (hybrid filler). These materials have a promising role in energy harvesting through self-powered nanogenerators for portable electronic systems. Finally, the low-power PENGs developed provide cost-effective voltage and power management circuits. This allows these PENGs to contribute to sustainable and self-sufficient electronic systems like pacemaker implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition)
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