Sustainable Polymer Materials for Pavement Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, entitled "Sustainable Polymer Materials for Pavement Applications", focuses on the latest advancements in sustainable polymer materials for pavement applications, highlighting their crucial role in developing next-generation road infrastructure.
Conventional pavement materials face limitations in durability, environmental impact, and adaptability to changing climate conditions. Sustainable polymer materials offer innovative solutions through enhanced mechanical properties, improved resistance to environmental degradation, and their reduced carbon footprint. Recent breakthroughs in bio-based polymers, recycled polymer composites, and self-healing materials are revolutionizing pavement technology by extending service life, reducing maintenance requirements, and improving overall sustainability.
We particularly welcome contributions that address critical challenges in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, including the multi-scale damage mechanisms and durability of polymer-modified composite pavements, thermoregulation via phase-change polymer composites, interface bonding and thermal compatibility in composite pavement–steel girder systems, and the optimization of polymer-stabilized or polymer-modified asphalt/aggregate structures for long-term performance.
This Special Issue provides a platform for interdisciplinary research bridging material science and civil engineering, offering both fundamental insights and practical solutions for sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Fiber-reinforced polymer systems for pavement reinforcement;
- Bio-based polymers from renewable resources for pavement application;
- Recycled polymer composites for asphalt modification;
- Self-healing polymeric materials for crack repair;
- Phase-change polymer composites for temperature regulation;
- Durability and aging performance of polymer-modified pavements;
- Life cycle assessment of sustainable pavement materials.
Dr. Jiasheng Dai
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
- sustainable polymers
- pavement materials
- polymer-modified asphalt
- bio-based binders
- recycled polymers
- self-healing materials
- life cycle assessment
- green construction
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