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Polymers
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Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science
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Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 5108

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Heitor Luiz Ornaghi Júnior

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Process Technologies and Engineering (PGPROTEC), University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul CEP 95070-560, Brazil
Interests: structural composites; structure vs property relationship; creep; dynamic mechanical thermal analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills, Kottayam 686 560, Kerala, India
Interests: nanomaterials; polymer blends; fiber-filled polymer composites; polymer nanocomposites; aging and degradation; pervaporation phenomena; sorption and diffusion; interpenetrating polymer systems; recyclability and reuse of waste plastics and rubbers; elastomer crosslinking; dual porous nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering; polymer nanocomposites for electronic applications; water purification; energy storage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer materials are widely used in a range of applications, mainly replacing traditional materials such as metals and ceramics. This is due to their highly attractive characteristics, as they are easily processed and have a lower cost and tailor-made capability. Their use ranges from usual plastic bags to biomedical applications and requires knowledge of their chemistry and physics. With the advancement of technology, more complex materials can be created alongside new advancements in mechanical property modification/improvement and material-testing techniques.

We would like to invite you to submit papers, full-length review articles, or short communications to a Special Issue entitled Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science. This Special Issue encompasses all the areas of polymer materials, including but not limited to topics about the properties, characterization, processing and related subjects of polymer science. The keywords presented in this Special Issue are numerous and try to cover the majority of advances and testing in polymer science and other polymer combined materials. We encourage potential authors to illustrate polymer science research advances that are well beyond the topics covered by these specific keywords.

Prof. Dr. Heitor Luiz Ornaghi Júnior
Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas
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

  • destructive and non-destructive testing
  • modelling and simulations
  • damage detection
  • data science
  • polymer informatics
  • molecular descriptors for determination of mechanical properties
  • molecular composites
  • multi-strategic approach
  • 3D printable materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5364 KiB  
Article
Isotactic Polypropylene (iPP) Foils—Correlation of Core and Shell Crystallinity with Mechanical Properties Obtained by Nanoindentation
by Miroslav Huskić, Lidija Slemenik Perše, Boris Orel and Mohor Mihelčič
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060736 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 510
Abstract
This study investigates the correlation between the crystallinity and mechanical properties of calendered isotactic polypropylene (iPP) foils, focusing on the influence of haul-off speed and additive type. Two groups of iPP foils produced on an industrial scale were compared: (i) foils containing 10 [...] Read more.
This study investigates the correlation between the crystallinity and mechanical properties of calendered isotactic polypropylene (iPP) foils, focusing on the influence of haul-off speed and additive type. Two groups of iPP foils produced on an industrial scale were compared: (i) foils containing 10 wt.% recycled PP at haul-off speeds of 2 and 10 m/min; and (ii) foils with different additives (neat PP, 10 wt.% recycled PP, and PP random copolymer) at a constant haul-off speed of 10 m/min. All foils exhibited a pronounced skin–core structure, with the inner surface showing higher crystallinity (up to 10%) due to slower cooling rates, as determined by Flash Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Flash DSC). Nanoindentation tests correlated these differences in crystallinity with variations in the hardness and elastic modulus across the cross-section of the foil. Higher haul-off speeds (10 m/min) resulted in increased crystallinity, a higher elastic modulus and higher hardness. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) confirmed the morphological differences and highlighted the presence of highly oriented skin layers and stratified crystalline structures. These findings emphasize the significant influence of processing conditions, such as hauling speed and the addition of recycled polypropylene or a random copolymer, on the mechanical and optical properties of iPP foils. This comprehensive approach to characterizing complex structure–property relationships is valuable for optimizing the production and performance of polypropylene-based packaging foils on an industrial scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science)
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34 pages, 14250 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Mechanical Properties of Recycled 3D-Printed PLA Parts for Sustainable Packaging Solutions Using Experimental Analysis and Machine Learning
by Maria Tănase, Alexandra Ileana Portoacă, Alin Diniță, Gheorghe Brănoiu, Florin Zamfir, Elena-Emilia Sirbu and Cătălina Călin
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3268; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233268 - 24 Nov 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
Increasing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable materials have driven a focus towards the utilization of recycled polylactic acid (PLA) in additive manufacturing as PLA offers advantages over other thermoplastics, including biodegradability, ease of processing, and a lower environmental impact during production. [...] Read more.
Increasing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable materials have driven a focus towards the utilization of recycled polylactic acid (PLA) in additive manufacturing as PLA offers advantages over other thermoplastics, including biodegradability, ease of processing, and a lower environmental impact during production. This study explores the optimization of the mechanical properties of recycled PLA parts through a combination of experimental and machine learning approaches. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of various processing parameters, such as layer thickness and infill density, as well as annealing conditions, on the mechanical properties of recycled PLA parts. Machine learning algorithms have proven the possibility to predict tensile behavior with an average error of 6.059%. The results demonstrate that specific combinations of processing parameters and post-treatment annealing differently improve the mechanical properties (with 7.31% in ultimate tensile strength (UTS), 0.28% in Young’s modulus, and 3.68% in elongation) and crystallinity (with 22.33%) of recycled PLA according to XRD analysis, making it a viable alternative to virgin PLA in various applications such as sustainable packaging solutions, including biodegradable containers, clamshell packaging, and protective inserts. The optimized recycled PLA parts exhibited mechanical properties and crystallinity levels comparable to those of their virgin counterparts, highlighting their potential for reducing environmental impact and saving costs. For both as-built and annealed samples, the optimal settings for achieving high composite desirability involved a 0.2 mm layer thickness, with 75% infill for the as-built samples and 100% infill for the annealed samples. This study provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing recycled PLA in additive manufacturing, contributing to the advancement of sustainable material engineering and the circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science)
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20 pages, 5016 KiB  
Article
Radiopaque Polyurethanes Containing Barium Sulfate: A Survey on Thermal, Rheological, Physical, and Structural Properties
by Heitor Luiz Ornaghi Júnior, Benoit Duchemin, Sanae Azzaye, Márcio Ronaldo Farias Soares, Bárbara Schneider and Carlos Henrique Romoaldo
Polymers 2024, 16(21), 3086; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16213086 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Radiopaque polyurethanes are extensively used in biomedical fields owing to their favorable balance of properties. This research aims to investigate the influence of particle concentration on various properties, including rheological, radiopacity, structural, thermal, and mechanical attributes, with a thorough analysis. The findings are [...] Read more.
Radiopaque polyurethanes are extensively used in biomedical fields owing to their favorable balance of properties. This research aims to investigate the influence of particle concentration on various properties, including rheological, radiopacity, structural, thermal, and mechanical attributes, with a thorough analysis. The findings are benchmarked against a commercial product (PL 8500 A) that contains 10% weight barium sulfate. Two more thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) were formulated with two different concentrations of barium sulfate (10 wt.% and 20 wt.%) and compared to the commercially available product. FTIR demonstrated similar absorption bands among all samples, indicating that the fabrication method did not impact the TPU matrix. DSC indicated a predominantly amorphous structure for PL 8500 A compared to the other samples, while the kinetic degradation was more influenced by the higher barium sulfate content. The rheological analysis showed a decrease in the complex viscosity and storage modulus with the radiopacifier and an increase in the radiopacity, as demonstrated by the X-radiography. X-ray microtomography showed a more spherical particle format with a heterogeneous particle structure for PL 8500 A compared to the other polyurethanes. These findings enhance the comprehension of the structure–property relationships inherent in these materials and facilitate the development of customized materials for targeted applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science)
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19 pages, 9820 KiB  
Article
Impact of Shape Transformation of Programmable 3D Structures on UV Print Quality
by Matej Pivar and Deja Muck
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2685; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192685 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 921
Abstract
The field of 3D and 4D printing is advancing rapidly, offering new ways to control the transformation of programmable 3D structures in response to external stimuli. This study examines the impact of 3D printing parameters, namely the UV ink thickness (applied using a [...] Read more.
The field of 3D and 4D printing is advancing rapidly, offering new ways to control the transformation of programmable 3D structures in response to external stimuli. This study examines the impact of 3D printing parameters, namely the UV ink thickness (applied using a UV inkjet printer on pre-3D-printed programmable structures) and thermal activation, on the dimensional and surface changes to high-stress (HS) and low-stress (LS) programmable samples and on print quality. The results indicate that HS samples shrink in the longitudinal direction, while expanding in terms of their height and width, whereas LS samples exhibit minimal dimensional changes due to lower programmed stress. The dynamic mechanical analysis shows that UV ink, particularly cyan and CMYK overprints, reduces the shrinkage in HS samples by acting as a resistive layer. Thicker ink films further reduce the dimensional changes in HS samples. Thermal activation increases the surface roughness of HS structures, leading to the wrinkling of UV ink films, while LS structures are less affected. The surface gloss decreases significantly in HS structures after UV ink application; however, thermal activation has little impact on LS structures. UV ink adhesion remains strong across both HS and LS samples, suggesting that UV inks are ideal for printing on programmable 3D structures, where the colour print quality and precise control of the shape transformation are crucial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Mechanical Properties and Material Testing in Polymer Science)
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