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Mechanical Behaviour of Polymeric-Based Systems Used in Engineering Applications, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 3292

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Engineering of Matter, Environment and Urban Planning (SIMAU), Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: biodegradable and natural polymers; biodegradation of polymers; polymeric composites and nanocomposites; mechanical behaviour of materials; thermal properties; active packaging materials; active packaging; lignocellulosic materials; circular economy
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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: lightweight alloys; composite materials; material characterization; mechanical testing; additive manufacturing; metal-forming operations; metal-cutting operations; solid state welding; plastic deformation; formability; sustainable manufacturing; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Engineering of Matter, Environment and Urban Planning (SIMAU), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: design, processing and characterization of biomedical materials; the design and manufacture of custom-made prostheses and tissue engineering scaffolds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymeric materials are widely used in various fields due to their extraordinary versatility, processability and applicability. Polymers are characterised by different molecular weights and unique chemical structures that influence physical, thermal and mechanical behaviour. They are applied in sectors such as medicine, packaging, electronics, automotive and aerospace. Polymeric additives such as latex appear to be a promising type of component that can significantly change the properties of concrete and mortar.

To investigate this further, we are launching a Special Issue of Polymers entitled "Mechanical Behaviour of Polymeric-Based Systems Used in Engineering Applications, 2nd Edition". This volume aims to collect contributions on recent advances in the form of research papers, communications, and review articles, exploring the mechanical and rheological properties of polymeric materials and emphasising the scientific and academic cooperation and guidance needed for the development/design and application of polymer-based materials.

Prof. Dr. Francesca Luzi
Prof. Dr. Michela Simoncini
Prof. Dr. Alida Mazzoli
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 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

  • polymeric composites and nanocomposites
  • characterization (thermal, mechanical, rheological, morphology, chemical, etc.)
  • manufacturing and processing (extrusion, 3D printing, electrospinning, injection moulding, thermoforming, hot-press moulding, etc.)
  • sustainable development
  • engineering applications
  • polymeric additives
  • corrosion resistance and waterproofing

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3931 KB  
Article
Experimental Determination of Material Behavior Under Compression of a Carbon-Reinforced Epoxy Composite Boat Damaged by Slamming-like Impact
by Erkin Altunsaray, Mustafa Biçer, Haşim Fırat Karasu and Gökdeniz Neşer
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020173 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Carbon-reinforced epoxy laminated composite (CREC) structures are increasingly utilized in high-speed marine vehicles (HSMVs) due to their high specific strength and stiffness; however, they are frequently subjected to impact loads like slamming and aggressive environmental agents during operation. This study experimentally investigates the [...] Read more.
Carbon-reinforced epoxy laminated composite (CREC) structures are increasingly utilized in high-speed marine vehicles (HSMVs) due to their high specific strength and stiffness; however, they are frequently subjected to impact loads like slamming and aggressive environmental agents during operation. This study experimentally investigates the Compression After Impact (CAI) behavior of CREC plates with varying lamination sequences under both atmospheric and accelerated aging conditions. The samples were produced using the vacuum-assisted resin infusion method with three specific orientation types: quasi-isotropic, cross-ply, and angle-ply. To simulate the marine environment, specimens were subjected to accelerated aging in a salt fog and cyclic corrosion cabin for periods of 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Before and following the aging process, low-velocity impact tests were conducted at an energy level of 30 J, after which the residual compressive strength was measured by CAI tests. At the end of the aging process, after the sixth week, the performance of plates with different layer configuration characteristics can be summarized as follows: Plates 1 and 2, which are quasi-isotropic, exhibit opposite behavior. Plate 1, with an initial toughness of 23,000 mJ, increases its performance to 27,000 mJ as it ages, while these values are around 27,000 and 17,000 mJ, respectively, for Plate 2. It is thought that the difference in configurations creates this difference, and the presence of the 0° layer under the effect of compression load at the beginning and end of the configuration has a performance-enhancing effect. In Plates 3 and 4, which have a cross-ply configuration, almost the same performance is observed; the performance, which is initially 13,000 mJ, increases to around 23,000 mJ with the effect of aging. Among the options, angle-ply Plates 5 and 6 demonstrate the highest performance with values around 35,000 mJ, along with an undefined aging effect. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirmed the presence of matrix cracking, fiber breakage, and salt accumulation (Na and Ca compounds) on the aged surfaces. The study concludes that the impact of environmental aging on CRECs is not uniformly negative; while it degrades certain configurations, it can enhance the toughness and energy absorption of brittle, cross-ply structures through matrix plasticization. Full article
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17 pages, 5022 KB  
Article
The Impact of Elevated Printing Speeds and Filament Color on the Dimensional Precision and Tensile Properties of FDM-Printed PLA Specimens
by Deian Dorel Ardeljan, Doina Frunzaverde, Vasile Cojocaru, Raul Rusalin Turiac, Nicoleta Bacescu, Costel Relu Ciubotariu and Gabriela Marginean
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152090 - 30 Jul 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2599
Abstract
This study examines the effect of elevated printing speeds (100–600 mm/s) on the dimensional accuracy and tensile strength of PLA components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM). To isolate the influence of printing speed, all other parameters were kept constant, and two filament [...] Read more.
This study examines the effect of elevated printing speeds (100–600 mm/s) on the dimensional accuracy and tensile strength of PLA components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM). To isolate the influence of printing speed, all other parameters were kept constant, and two filament variants—natural (unpigmented) and black PLA—were analyzed. ISO 527-2 type 1A specimens were produced and tested for dimensional deviations and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). The results indicate that printing speed has a marked impact on both geometric precision and mechanical performance. The optimal speed of 300 mm/s provided the best compromise between dimensional accuracy and tensile strength for both filaments. At speeds below 300 mm/s, under-extrusion caused weak layer bonding and air gaps, while speeds above 300 mm/s led to over-extrusion and structural defects due to thermal stress and rapid cooling. Black PLA yielded better dimensional accuracy at higher speeds, with cross-sectional deviations between 2.76% and 5.33%, while natural PLA showed larger deviations of up to 8.63%. However, natural PLA exhibited superior tensile strength, reaching up to 46.59 MPa, with black PLA showing up to 13.16% lower UTS values. The findings emphasize the importance of speed tuning and material selection for achieving high-quality, reliable, and efficient FDM prints. Full article
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