Fire Retardant Polymer Bio-Composite Foams: Preparation, Properties, and Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 51
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polymer composites; bio-composites; bamboo; acoustic emission; biological materials; rubber
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymer foams have attracted widespread interest due to their lightweight thermal insulation, acoustic damping, editable functionality, and structural performance. In recent years, growing environmental concerns and stringent fire-safety regulations have accelerated the development of sustainable and flame-retardant polymer foams. Among them, bio-composite foams, prepared by incorporating natural fibers, nanocellulose, bio-based fillers, or renewable polymers/fillers, offer significant advantages in terms of sustainability, recyclability, and reduced environmental impact. However, their inherent flammability remains a key challenge to their broader application in construction, automotives, aerospace, packaging, etc.
This Special Issue will provide a timely platform to present recent advances in the design, processing, characterization, and application of fire-retardant polymer bio-composite foams. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Novel strategies for preparing bio-composite foams with improved flame retardancy.
- The synergistic effects of bio-based fiber/fillers and fire-retardant agents.
- Advanced foaming methods bridging cost- and foaming-efficiency.
- Structure–property relationships governing mechanical-, thermal-, and fire-resistance behaviors.
- Life-cycle assessment, recyclability, and sustainability of fire-retardant bio-composite foams.
- Emerging applications in building insulation, automobile parts, packaging, and beyond.
This Special Issue aims to highlight both fundamental research and practical applications, bringing together contributions from both academia and industry. Submissions of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and perspective papers are welcome. The goal is to facilitate cross-disciplinary dialog, foster innovations in bio-based flame-retardant technologies, and provide insights into the next generation of sustainable polymer foams with enhanced fire safety.
We believe this Special Issue will serve as an influential reference for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, advancing the understanding and application of fire-retardant polymer bio-composite foams.
Prof. Dr. Guowei 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 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
- bio-composites
- polymer foam
- fire retardancy
- bio-based materials
- natural fibers
- thermal insulation
- sustainability
- recyclability
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