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Polymers
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Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties
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Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 7944

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Bakar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Applied Chemistry, University of Radom, Radom, Poland
Interests: mechanical and thermal properties of polymers and nanocomposites; fracture toughness; structure; morphology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anita Białkowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University of Radom, Faculty of Applied Chemistry, Radom Poland
Interests: synthesis of polymers; conventional and nonisocyanate polyurethanes; thermal properties of polymers and nanocomposites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the first work of the Toyota research group in the early 1990s, polymer nanocomposites have been continuously developed with increasingly innovative results. Due to their outstanding properties, polymer nanocomposites have garnered considerable academic and industrial attention in recent decades.

In recent decades, polymer nanocomposites have garnered considerable attention from both academics and industrialists. This special group of polymeric materials have been prepared with different polymer matrices (thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers) and various nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and layered nanoclays, as well as metallic and polymeric nanoparticles.

Recent studies have focused on the use of hybrid polymer nanocomposites with even more improved properties, resulting from specific positive interactions between the modifiers and the polymer matrix.

Due to their versatile performance properties, they have been widely used in many areas such as automotive and aerospace industries, packaging, electronics, biomedical, energy storage, and sensors.

However, many challenges remain to be overcome with polymer nanocomposites, particularly in the areas of the environment and their environmentally friendly use.

The main objective of this Special Issue is to collect recent advances in polymer nanocomposites with improved mechanical and thermal properties in order to extend their field of application and their use under more severe conditions. The use of new combinations of modifiers leading to synergistic effects as well as the simulation of properties is also within the scope of this Special Issue.

Nevertheless, papers focused on the crucial environmental aspect associated with the recyclability of polymer nanocomposites, as well as the use of degradable ingredients and sustainable materials, are very welcome to be submitted to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Bakar
Dr. Anita Białkowska
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

  • polymer nanocomposites
  • mechanical properties
  • thermal properties

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4625 KiB  
Article
Ternary Epoxy Nanocomposites with Synergistic Effects: Preparation, Properties Evaluation and Structure Analysis
by Patryk Suroń, Anita Białkowska, Mohamed Bakar, Barbora Hanulikova, Milan Masař and Dora Kroisová
Polymers 2025, 17(2), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17020158 - 10 Jan 2025
Viewed by 805
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to prepare hybrid epoxy composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties. The simultaneous use of two different modifiers in an epoxy resin was motivated by the expected occurrence of synergistic effects on the performance properties of [...] Read more.
The objective of the present work was to prepare hybrid epoxy composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties. The simultaneous use of two different modifiers in an epoxy resin was motivated by the expected occurrence of synergistic effects on the performance properties of the matrix. Such a hybrid composite can be used in more severe conditions and/or in broader application areas. Hybrid epoxy composites were prepared with polyurethane (PUR), Nanomer nanoclay and carbon nanotubes (CNT), followed by the evaluation of their mechanical and thermal properties. Synergistic improvements in mechanical properties of hybrid composites were observed for 0.5 wt% Nanomer and 1 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNT), 7.5 wt% PUR and 1 wt% CNT, and 5 wt% PUR and 1 wt% CNT, confirming the occurrence of synergistic effects as to the impact strength (IS) of the matrices, compared to binary systems. The toughening induced by CNT/Nanomer modifiers can be attributed to the specific interfacial interactions between the two nanoparticles, while in the case of CNT/PUR, it can be explained by the combined effects of flexible polymer chains and the specific arrangement of nanoparticles in epoxy systems. Spectroscopy analysis confirmed the occurrence of interaction between OH groups in the epoxy matrix with CNT and reactive groups of PUR. The fracture surface showed plastic deformations, with good dispersion of CNT, explaining the improved mechanical properties of the matrix composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties)
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22 pages, 11093 KiB  
Article
Moisture Absorption and Mechanical Degradation of Polymer Systems Incorporated with Layered Double Hydroxide Particles
by Stanislav Stankevich, Daiva Zeleniakiene, Jevgenijs Sevcenko, Olga Bulderberga, Katerina Zetkova, Joao Tedim and Andrey Aniskevich
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3388; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233388 - 30 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1254
Abstract
This study investigated the moisture absorption and mechanical degradation of epoxy-based polymer systems with Mg-Al/NO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles content up to 5 wt%. Such systems are developed for multilayer corrosion protective coatings. A sorption model was developed to calculate the [...] Read more.
This study investigated the moisture absorption and mechanical degradation of epoxy-based polymer systems with Mg-Al/NO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles content up to 5 wt%. Such systems are developed for multilayer corrosion protective coatings. A sorption model was developed to calculate the moisture concentration field in the multilayer structures using Fick’s law of diffusion. The finite-difference method was used for the numerical solution. Epoxy/LDH nanocomposites were prepared using various dispersion methods with solvents, wetting agents, and via a three-roll mill. Moisture absorption was measured under different environmental conditions, including temperatures up to 50 °C and salinity levels up to 26.3 wt% salt solution. The results showed that equilibrium moisture content increased by 50% in hot water, while it was reduced by up to two times in salt solution. The diffusion coefficient in hot water increased up to four times compared to room temperature. The numerical algorithm was validated against experimental data, accurately predicting moisture distribution over time in complex polymer systems. Mechanical tests revealed that the elastic modulus did not change after water exposure; however, the ultimate strength decreased by 10–15%, especially in specimens with 5 wt% LDH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties)
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21 pages, 3611 KiB  
Article
Polymer Bionanocomposites Based on a P3BH/Polyurethane Matrix with Organomodified Montmorillonite—Mechanical and Thermal Properties, Biodegradability, and Cytotoxicity
by Beata Krzykowska, Łukasz Uram, Wiesław Frącz, Miroslava Kovářová, Vladimir Sedlařík, Dominika Hanusova, Maciej Kisiel, Joanna Paciorek-Sadowska, Marcin Borowicz and Iwona Zarzyka
Polymers 2024, 16(18), 2681; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16182681 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1307
Abstract
In the present work, hybrid nanobiocomposites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P3HB, with the use of aromatic linear polyurethane as modifier and organic nanoclay, Cloisite 30B, as a nanofiller were produced. The aromatic linear polyurethane (PU) was synthesized in a reaction of diphenylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate and [...] Read more.
In the present work, hybrid nanobiocomposites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P3HB, with the use of aromatic linear polyurethane as modifier and organic nanoclay, Cloisite 30B, as a nanofiller were produced. The aromatic linear polyurethane (PU) was synthesized in a reaction of diphenylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate and polyethylene glycol with a molecular mass of 1000 g/mole. The obtained nanobiocomposites were characterized by the small-angle X-ray scattering technique, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, and moreover, their selected mechanical properties, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity were tested. The effect of the organomodified montmorillonite presence in the biocomposites on their properties was investigated and compared to those of the native P3HB and the P3HB-PU composition. The obtained hybrid nanobiocomposites have an exfoliated structure. The presence and content of Cloisite 30B influence the P3HB-PU composition’s properties, and 2 wt.% Cloisite 30B leads to the best improvement in the aforementioned properties. The obtained results indicate that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of P3HB were improved, particularly in terms of increasing the degradation temperature, reducing hardness, and increasing impact strength, which were also confirmed by the morphological analysis of these bionanocomposites. However, the presence of organomodified montmorillonite in the obtained polymer biocomposites decreased their biodegradability slightly. The produced hybrid polymer nanobiocomposites have tailored mechanical and thermal properties and processing conditions for their expected application in the production of biodegradable, short-lived products for agriculture. Moreover, in vitro studies on human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes showed their satisfactory biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, which make them safe when in contact with the human body, for instance, in biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties)
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Review

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17 pages, 1997 KiB  
Review
The Role of Superabsorbent Polymers and Polymer Composites in Water Resource Treatment and Management
by Assunta Campanile, Barbara Liguori, Giuseppe Cesare Lama, Federica Recupido, Silvana Donatiello, Mariarita Gagliardi, Alfonso Morone and Letizia Verdolotti
Polymers 2024, 16(16), 2337; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16162337 - 18 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3853
Abstract
In the last century, the issue of “water reserves” has become a remarkably strategic topic in modern science and technology. In this context, water resource treatment and management systems are being developed in both agricultural and urban area scenarios. This can be achieved [...] Read more.
In the last century, the issue of “water reserves” has become a remarkably strategic topic in modern science and technology. In this context, water resource treatment and management systems are being developed in both agricultural and urban area scenarios. This can be achieved using superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), highly cross-linked hydrogels with three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer structures capable of absorbing, swelling and retaining huge amounts of aqueous solutions. SAPs are able to respond to several external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, electric field, and solution composition and concentration. They can be used in many areas, from sensor technology to drug delivery, agriculture, firefighting applications, food, and the biomedical industry. In addition, new categories of functional SAP-based materials, mainly superabsorbent polymer composites, can also encapsulate fertilizers to efficiently provide the controlled release of both water and active compounds. Moreover, SAPs have great potential in wastewater treatment for the removal of harmful elements. In this respect, in the following review, the most promising and recent advances in the use of SAPs and composite SAPs as tools for the sustainable management and remediation of water resource are reviewed and discussed by identifying opportunities and drawbacks and highlighting new challenges and aims to inspire the research community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanocomposites with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical and Barrier Properties)
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