Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Multicomponent Polymer Systems

Dear Colleagues,

The combination of components with different features to achieve improved properties of the final product is a common strategy in the design of new materials, and also in polymer science. For polymer materials, the preparation of so-called blends, formed by mixtures of polymers, is probably the most straightforward approach to produce multicomponent polymer systems, but not the only one. In addition to polymer blends, the term “multicomponent” can also be related to the incorporation of inorganic materials to form (nano)composites and polymer/inorganic hybrid materials. In all cases—i.e., “conventional” blends, composites, and hybrids—the miscibility of the constituents is the key parameter that determines the presence or absence of phase separation and the overall thermodynamics of the system. However, the structure of the final material is often not only determined by thermodynamics, but also by kinetic aspects of the synthesis and/or processing.
This Special Issue, “Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Multicomponent Polymer Systems”, aims to collect original research papers and critical reviews on recent progress in multicomponent polymer systems, with emphasis on thermodynamics and kinetic aspects. The issue is open to discussions of any type of multicomponent system, including both polymer/polymer and polymer/inorganic materials. We wish to highlight the importance of new approaches in the design of materials. Theoretical and experimental contributions are welcome.

Topics of interest for this issue may include:

• Thermodynamics of polymer blends/hybrids
• Thermodynamics and kinetics of polymer/inorganic composites and hybrid materials
• Morphology control in multicomponent polymer systems
• Modeling of phase behavior
• Self-assembly in multicomponent polymer systems

We look forward to your contributions,

Prof. Dr. Clara M Gómez
Prof. Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Espí
Guest Editors

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