polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sustainable Polymer Materials for Industrial Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2412

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: nanocomposites; material synthesis and processing; mechanical properties characterization; thermal and acoustic insulation materials; microstructural and morphological analysis; chemical–physical characterization; rheology and viscoelastic behavior; sustainable and circular economy materials; functional and smart materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: polymers processing; sustainable materials; recycling materials; sustainable development; circular economy; LCA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing demand for environmentally friendly, high-performance materials across diverse industrial sectors has intensified the search for sustainable polymer systems with tailored functionalities. This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in sustainable polymer materials, welcoming contributions that explore their design, synthesis, processing, characterization, and application in industrial contexts.We encourage submissions that investigate the structure–property relationships of innovative materials, synthetic or natural, with an emphasis on reducing environmental impact while meeting demanding performance criteria. Particular attention is given to the integration of sustainability, durability, and multifunctionality in polymer-based systems.

Relevant functional aspects include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Thermal and acoustic insulation for energy-efficient applications.
  • Electrical and thermal conductivity for smart and structural components.
  • Mechanical strength, toughness, and durability for load-bearing uses.
  • Surface properties such as self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, and catalytic activity.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Biopolymers: Natural and biodegradable polymers for packaging, biomedical, and agricultural uses.
  • Nanostructured Sustainable Materials: Polymer-based nanocomposites with enhanced performance and multifunctional properties.
  • Recyclable and Circular Economy Materials: Advanced strategies for material reuse, waste reduction, and closed-loop manufacturing.
  • Bio-based and Renewable Polymers: Materials derived from lignin, cellulose, biochar, and other renewable resources.
  • Smart Sustainable Polymers: Self-healing, stimuli-responsive, or adaptive materials for next-generation technologies.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies focused on the development and deployment of sustainable polymer materials in key industrial sectors, including, but not limited to, construction, aerospace, automotive, electronics, and biomedical technologies. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary submissions that bridge materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering, contributing to the transition toward a more sustainable and circular industrial future.

Dr. Laura Ricciotti
Dr. Raffaella Aversa
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

  • sustainable polymers
  • biopolymers
  • bio-based materials
  • recyclable materials
  • circular economy
  • nanostructured composites
  • smart materials
  • thermal insulation
  • mechanical performance
  • additive manufacturing
  • green chemistry
  • low-carbon materials
  • industrial applications
  • functional surfaces

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

15 pages, 1016 KB  
Article
Effect of bis-TEMPO Sebacate on Mechanical Properties and Oxidative Resistance of Peroxide-Crosslinked Polyolefin Compositions
by Artem Chizhov, Aleksandr Goriaev, Svetlana Belus and Maksim Svistunov
Polymers 2025, 17(24), 3325; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17243325 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 212
Abstract
TEMPO derivatives are well known as scorch retardants due to their ability to effectively quench free alkyl radicals during peroxide crosslinking of polymer compositions. However, in practice this leads to the loss of crosslinking density due to a irreversible decrease in the number [...] Read more.
TEMPO derivatives are well known as scorch retardants due to their ability to effectively quench free alkyl radicals during peroxide crosslinking of polymer compositions. However, in practice this leads to the loss of crosslinking density due to a irreversible decrease in the number of alkyl radicals involved in the crosslinking process. One approach to solving this problem is the use of TEMPO-based biradical molecules, which, on the one hand, are able to effectively quench alkyl radicals, and on the other hand, can couple macroradicals, partially compensating for the loss of crosslinking density. The aim of this work was to reveal the effect of bis(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate (bis-TEMPO) in the concentration range of 0.11–0.44 phr on the delay in the onset of dynamic crosslinking of polyolefin composites initiated by peroxide, as well as the oxidative stability of the resulting crosslinked composites. The obtained data show that using bis-TEMPO at a concentration of less than 0.27 phr increases the crosslinking density of the polyolefin composite, with a crosslinking onset delay of up to 36 s achieved. Simultaneously, antioxidant functionality of bis-TEMPO in crosslinked composites is considered moderate and leads to an increase in the OIT values by 1.7–2.8 times. The crosslinking onset delay time under dynamic conditions is well described by a first-order kinetic model at a constant temperature. The obtained data confirm the efficiency and predictability of bis-TEMPO as a scorch retardant for polyolefin composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymer Materials for Industrial Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 2546 KB  
Systematic Review
Sustainable Polymer Composites for Thermal Insulation in Automotive Applications: A Systematic Literature Review
by Dan Dobrotă, Gabriela-Andreea Sava, Andreea-Mihaela Bărbușiu and Gabriel Tiberiu Dobrescu
Polymers 2025, 17(16), 2200; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17162200 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1881
Abstract
This systematic literature review explores recent advancements in polymer-based composite materials designed for thermal insulation in automotive applications, with a particular focus on sustainability, performance optimization, and scalability. The methodology follows PRISMA 2020 guidelines and includes a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of [...] Read more.
This systematic literature review explores recent advancements in polymer-based composite materials designed for thermal insulation in automotive applications, with a particular focus on sustainability, performance optimization, and scalability. The methodology follows PRISMA 2020 guidelines and includes a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of 229 peer-reviewed articles published over the past 15 years across major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, MDPI). The findings are structured around four central research questions addressing (1) the functional role of insulation in automotive systems; (2) criteria for selecting suitable polymer systems; (3) optimization strategies involving nanostructuring, self-healing, and additive manufacturing; and (4) future research directions involving smart polymers, bioinspired architectures, and AI-driven design. Results show that epoxy resins, polyurethane, silicones, and polymeric foams offer distinct advantages depending on the specific application, yet each presents trade-offs between thermal resistance, recyclability, processing complexity, and ecological impact. Comparative evaluation tables and bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) reveal an emerging research trend toward hybrid systems that combine bio-based matrices with functional nanofillers. The study concludes that no single material system is universally optimal, but rather that tailored solutions integrating performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness are essential for next-generation automotive thermal insulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymer Materials for Industrial Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop