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Polymers
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Multiscale and Multi-Physical Behavior of Polymers and Polymer Composites
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Multiscale and Multi-Physical Behavior of Polymers and Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2025) | Viewed by 2988

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Industrial Mechanics, Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark
Interests: tribology; multibody dynamics with lubricated joints; wear and lubrication in revolute joints; mechanics of materials under contact; multiscale modelling of heterogeneous materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers and polymer composites are integral to advancements in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and energy applications due to their tunable properties and lightweight nature. However, their performance hinges on complex interactions across multiple scales (molecular, meso-, and macro-scale) and under diverse physical stimuli (thermal, mechanical, electrical, and environmental). Understanding these multiscale and multi-physical behaviors remains a critical challenge, requiring interdisciplinary approaches to bridge gaps between processing, structure, properties, and performance.

This Special Issue invites original research and reviews addressing experimental, computational, and theoretical advances in characterizing and modeling polymers and composites across scales. Topics of interest include the following: multiscale structure–property relationships (e.g., crystallinity, filler dispersion, interfacial effects); multi-physical coupling mechanisms (e.g., thermo-mechanical, hygro-thermo-chemical responses); advanced characterization techniques (in situ microscopy, spectroscopy, and tomography); predictive modeling (molecular dynamics, finite element analysis, and machine learning); the environmental degradation, recycling, and sustainability of polymeric systems; and novel processing methods to tailor multiscale architectures (3D printing and self-assembly).

Contributions should emphasize innovative strategies to enhance material performance, durability, and functionality under real-world conditions. Submissions exploring emerging applications—such as smart materials, energy storage, or bioinspired systems—are particularly encouraged. 

Dr. Pei Li
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 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

  • polymers and polymer composites
  • modeling
  • structure–property relationships
  • multiscale and multi-physical behaviors
  • thermos-mechanical properties

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6471 KB  
Article
Bio-Adhesive Lignin-Reinforced Epoxy Acrylate (EA)-Based Composite as a DLP 3D Printing Material
by Jeonghong Ha and Jong Wan Ko
Polymers 2025, 17(21), 2833; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212833 - 23 Oct 2025
Viewed by 569
Abstract
Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing is a powerful additive manufacturing technique but is limited by the relatively low mechanical strength of cured neat resin parts. In this study, a renewable bio-adhesive lignin was introduced as a reinforcing filler into a bisphenol A-type [...] Read more.
Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing is a powerful additive manufacturing technique but is limited by the relatively low mechanical strength of cured neat resin parts. In this study, a renewable bio-adhesive lignin was introduced as a reinforcing filler into a bisphenol A-type epoxy acrylate (EA) photocurable resin to enhance the mechanical performance of DLP-printed components. Lignin was incorporated at low concentrations (0–0.5 wt%), and three dispersion methods—magnetic stirring, planetary mixing, and ultrasonication—were compared to optimize the filler distribution. Cure depth tests and optical microscopy confirmed that ultrasonication (40 kHz, 5 h) achieved the most homogeneous dispersion, yielding a cure depth nearly matching that of the neat resin. DLP printing of tensile specimens demonstrated that as little as 0.025 wt% lignin increased tensile strength by ~39% (from 44.9 MPa to 62.2 MPa) compared to the neat resin, while maintaining similar elongation at break. Surface hardness also improved by over 40% at this optimal lignin content. However, higher lignin loadings (≥0.05 wt%) led to particle agglomeration, resulting in diminished mechanical gains and impaired printability (e.g., distortion and incomplete curing at 1 wt%). Fractographic analysis of broken specimens revealed that well-dispersed lignin particles act to deflect and hinder crack propagation, thereby enhancing fracture resistance. Overall, this work demonstrates a simple and sustainable approach to reinforce DLP 3D-printed polymers using biopolymer lignin, achieving significant improvements in mechanical properties while highlighting the value of bio-derived additives for advanced photopolymer 3D printing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale and Multi-Physical Behavior of Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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19 pages, 3126 KB  
Article
Performance Enhancement of Lightweight PLA Parts Printed by FFF Using Taguchi–GRA Method
by Oğuz Tunçel and Çağlar Kahya
Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2413; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172413 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 852
Abstract
Lightweight PLA (LW-PLA) filaments enable material-saving designs in fused filament fabrication (FFF), yet optimizing their mechanical performance remains challenging due to temperature-sensitive foaming behavior. This study aims to enhance the structural strength and material efficiency of LW-PLA parts using a multi-objective statistical approach. [...] Read more.
Lightweight PLA (LW-PLA) filaments enable material-saving designs in fused filament fabrication (FFF), yet optimizing their mechanical performance remains challenging due to temperature-sensitive foaming behavior. This study aims to enhance the structural strength and material efficiency of LW-PLA parts using a multi-objective statistical approach. Four key process parameters—infill density (Id), material flow rate (Mf), wall line count (Wlc), and infill pattern (Ip)—were systematically varied using a Taguchi L16 orthogonal array. Tensile strength (Ts), flexural strength (Fs), and material consumption (Mc) were selected as the critical response metrics. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was used to aggregate these responses into a single performance index, and ANOVA determined each factor’s contribution. The optimal combination of 60% infill density, 70% material flow, 4 wall lines, and line infill pattern yielded a 9.02% improvement in the overall performance index compared to the baseline, with corresponding Ts and Fs values of 13.58 MPa and 20.51 MPa. Mf and Wlc were the most influential parameters on mechanical behavior, while Id mainly affected Mc. These findings confirm that integrating Taguchi and GRA enables effective parameter tuning for LW-PLA, balancing strength and efficiency. This work contributes to the development of lightweight, high-performance parts suitable for functional applications such as UAVs and prototyping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale and Multi-Physical Behavior of Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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19 pages, 3753 KB  
Article
Dynamic Response of EPS Foam in Packaging: Experimental Tests and Constitutive Modeling
by Pei Li, Heng Zhang and Leilei Chen
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121606 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1119
Abstract
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is widely used in energy-absorbing structures for packaging applications; however, its mechanical behavior under dynamic loading conditions remains insufficiently characterized. To address this, the dynamic responses of EPS foam used in television packaging were first examined experimentally through drop [...] Read more.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is widely used in energy-absorbing structures for packaging applications; however, its mechanical behavior under dynamic loading conditions remains insufficiently characterized. To address this, the dynamic responses of EPS foam used in television packaging were first examined experimentally through drop tests. Building on these findings, a rate-sensitive constitutive model was developed to incorporate tensile damage mechanisms and tension–compression asymmetry, enabling unified modeling of both tensile and compressive deformation in complex structural applications. The proposed model was calibrated using standardized tension, compression, and shear tests, and subsequently employed to simulate three-point bending and dynamic compression scenarios involving EPS foam components. The simulation results demonstrated favorable agreement with experimental observations, confirming the accuracy and robustness of the proposed constitutive model in predicting the dynamic mechanical behavior of EPS foam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale and Multi-Physical Behavior of Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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