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Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials: 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 2094

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Prof. Dr. Yinghong Chen

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Guest Editor

The State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: polymer micro-processing; halogen-free flame retardant polymer materials; 3D printing of polymer materials; polymer blending and composite modification
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Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of materials sciences, functional polymer materials and products are becoming more significant, influencing various high-tech industries and sectors. These functional polymer materials also facilitate the advancement of polymer processing technologies due to their unique multifunctionalities such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, electromagnetic shielding, flame retardancy, lubrication, biodegradation, biocompatibility, and other physical and chemical properties, as well as their immense application potential. However, the performance and functionality a polymer material depend on its composition and synthesis method, also relying on the correlated advanced processing strategy. This Special Issue, entitled “Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials: 2nd Edition”, will delve into how cutting-edge processing technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), micro-processing (including microinjection molding), dynamic injection molding, rotary extrusion, gas-assisted injection molding, ultrasonic-assisted processing, biaxial stretching, multilayer coextrusion, mechanochemical processing, supercritical foaming, etc., can be utilized to achieve high performance and multifunctionality towards polymer materials. The precise manipulation of multiscale structures can significantly influence the optimization and enhancement of the properties and the functionalities of polymer materials. For instance, in lightweight and low-filled polymer parts with high electromagnetic shielding efficiency, the intricate design of macro/microscopic structures and the morphological control of functional filler networks during processing are closely related to the final performance. We firmly believe that, with continuous innovations in advanced polymer processing strategies, high-performance and multifunctional polymer materials will play significant roles in interdisciplinary fields, driving technological leaps and societal development.

This 2nd edition welcomes (but is not limited to) papers on forward-looking processing strategies for high-performance and multifunctional polymer materials, including cutting-edge polymer processing technologies, multiscale structural regulation of the functional properties of polymers, and practical applications.

Prof. Dr. Yinghong Chen
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 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

advanced polymer processing
functional polymer materials
polymer composite
polymer blend
polymer nanocomposite
high performance
multi-functions
multiscale structural control
structure manipulation
additive manufacturing
3D printing
microprocessing
rotary extrusion
foaming
biaxial stretching
multilayer coextrusion

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Related Special Issue

Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials in Polymers (11 articles)

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 23707 KB

Open AccessArticle

Corrosion Behaviour of Injection- and Compression-Moulded Nd–Fe–B and Sm–Fe–N Magnets with Different Polymer Binders

by Nikolina Lešić, Nataša Kovačević and Ingrid Milošev

Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1123; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091123 - 2 May 2026

Viewed by 984

Abstract

The corrosion behaviour and environmental durability of injection- and compression-moulded Nd–Fe–B and Sm–Fe–N magnets were investigated. For injection-moulded magnets, the effects of magnetic powder type (Nd–Fe–B and Sm–Fe–N), magnetic powder particle size (100 µm and 400 µm), and polymer binder (PPS and PA12) on corrosion resistance were studied. For compression-moulded magnets with an epoxy binder, the effects of powder type and size were examined. Corrosion resistance was investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation in electrolytes of varying pH (1.8–12.8). The Sm–Fe–N magnets exhibited slightly better corrosion resistance than the Nd–Fe–B magnets, irrespective of the polymer binder. The finer magnetic powders (100 µm) showed lower corrosion resistance due to their larger specific surface area, with a more pronounced effect in the compression-moulded magnets. The type of polymer binder had only a minor effect. The hygrothermal corrosion resistance and thermal stability were evaluated using bulk corrosion (BCT) and thermal shock tests, respectively. Surface corrosion was observed in all magnets after the BCT, with the compression-moulded magnets exhibiting a greater irreversible loss of magnetic properties. The thermal shock test caused a temporary reduction in magnetic properties, with recovery after remagnetisation, demonstrating the good thermal stability of both magnet types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials: 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 22064 KB

Open AccessArticle

3D-Printed Polylactide-Based Implants: Influence of Processing, Radiation Sterilization and In Vivo Bioresorption on Structural and Physicochemical Material Characteristics

by Monika Dobrzyńska-Mizera, Monika Knitter, Małgorzata Muzalewska, Marek Wyleżoł, Jacek Andrzejewski, Patryk Mietliński, Bartosz Gapiński, Maciej Stagraczyński, Michał Mikulski, Alessandra Longo, Giovanni Dal Poggetto, Maria Cristina Del Barone and Maria Laura Di Lorenzo

Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1034; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091034 - 24 Apr 2026

Viewed by 343

Abstract

The manuscript details the influence of high-temperature and high-shear processing, as well as radiation sterilization, on properties of bioresorbable and osteoconductive, patient-tailored alloplastic scaffolds for guided bone regeneration. Functionalized poly(l-lactide-co-d,l-lactide) copolymer filled with hydroxyapatite was used to produce two personalized implants for upper and lower jaw reconstruction via 3D printing. Morphology analysis (SEM, µCT), gel permeation chromatography, and thermal analysis quantified the effects of melt processing and sterilization on chain structure. Physical properties of sterilized parts, such as hardness and density, proved suitable for bone implants. Removal of the upper jaw implant after 4 months and of the lower jaw substitute after 18 months enabled monitoring of bioresorption and tissue regrowth over time. Gradual overgrowth of the implants with human tissue, initiated by the osteoconductive filler, was observed, along with time-dependent polylactide degradation, showing up to 92% molar mass reduction. The medical procedures confirmed safety, nontoxicity, non-allergenicity, and, most importantly, the tissue-forming properties of the polylactide-based formulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials: 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 3821 KB

Open AccessArticle

Interplay Between Octene Content and Grafting-Induced Molecular Weight Deviations and Their Effect on the Impact Toughness of Ethylene/1-Octene-Modified Polyamide 6

by Abdul Kadir Deeb, Oliver Neuß and Silke Rathgeber

Polymers 2026, 18(5), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18050590 - 27 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 388

Abstract

The impact modification of polyamide 6 (PA6) using maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene/1-octene copolymers (EOR-g-MAH) involves a trade-off between improved compatibilization, grafting-induced changes in modifier molecular weight

M W

, and melt processability. In this study, EOR modifiers with comparable initial

M W

but different [...] Read more.

M W

, and melt processability. In this study, EOR modifiers with comparable initial

M W

but different octene contents (

c_{o c t}

= 13, 15, and 16 mol%) were grafted to two MAH levels (

c_{M A H}

= 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) and incorporated into PA6 at a fixed composition. The system was designed to maintain a comparable microstructure, enabling the isolation of grafting-induced changes in modifier properties from microstructural effects.

M W

distributions were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography, and the impact behavior was evaluated over a wide temperature range, using an instrumented Charpy impact test. The results reveal a strong, interrelated,

c_{o c t}

- and

c_{M A H}

-dependent competition between β-scission and cross-linking during grafting, which governs the modifier’s

M W

distribution and particle strength. Higher

c_{o c t}

(15 and 16 mol%) enhances the impact performance up to ≈0 °C, well above the brittle–ductile transition temperature (BDTT), through increased elastic and plastic deformation capability of the modifiers. At elevated temperatures, however, successive melting of the modifiers leads to a loss of particle strength. At high

c_{o c t}

and

c_{M A H}

= 1.0 wt%, susceptibility to β-scission increases, leading to

M W

reduction that, for

c_{o c t}

= 16 mol%, is detrimental to impact performance, particularly above the BDTT. This effect is further amplified by reduced ductility due to stronger polar intermolecular interactions at high grafting levels. A moderate

c_{M A H}

= 0.5 wt% and

c_{o c t}

= 15 mol% provides an optimal compromise between strength and ductility, delivering high impact strength across a broad temperature range. At this

c_{M A H}

level, the number of PA6 chains covalently anchored to the modifier particles is moderate, resulting in lower compound viscosity and supporting favorable melt processability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Processing Strategy for Functional Polymer Materials: 2nd Edition)

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