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Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 4317

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Editors

Dr. Xujiang Chao

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Interests: computational mechanics of composites; mechanical metamaterial
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Wenlong Tian

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
Interests: thermal conductivity; composites; numerical simulation; mechanical properties; polymer composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites have become indispensable in modern engineering, yet optimizing their mechanical performance remains a key challenge. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on enhancing and understanding the mechanical properties of polymer composite materials and advanced structures. We invite contributions focused on innovative characterization techniques that reveal multi-scale behavior, novel fabrication methods for improved performance and functionality, and advanced numerical models for accurately predicting mechanical responses. A particular emphasis is placed on the emerging field of mechanical metamaterials and architected composites, exploring their unique design, fabrication, and application potential in areas such as lightweighting, energy absorption, and adaptive structures. This collection seeks to bridge experimental, theoretical, and computational advances, providing a comprehensive platform for researchers to share insights that drive the next generation of high-performance composite materials and intelligent structural systems.

Dr. Xujiang Chao
Dr. Wenlong Tian
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 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-anonymized 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

polymer composites
mechanical characterization
numerical modeling
additive manufacturing
mechanical metamaterials
lightweight structures

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5766 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fatigue Behavior of Woven Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Laminated Insulation (IEC 60893 EPGC 203) for High-Voltage Applications

by Oguzkan Senturk, Rupesh Daripa, Vivekkumar Chaubey, Tirdad Boroomand, Tobias Stirl and Rajeev Gupta

Polymers 2026, 18(14), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18141690 - 9 Jul 2026

Viewed by 460

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical performance and fatigue behavior of a woven glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminated composite classified as IEC 60893 EPGC 203, widely used in structural insulating components for high-voltage (HV) equipment. With evolving energy infrastructures introducing dynamic and cyclic loading conditions, understanding the long-term mechanical reliability of such materials has become increasingly important. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted, including flexural, compressive, tensile, Charpy impact, and fatigue tests. Mechanical properties were evaluated according to relevant ISO standards at room temperature and 120 °C to assess temperature-dependent performance. Fatigue tests were performed under fully reversed loading conditions (

R = - 1

), and stress–life (S-N) curves were established. The results revealed notable reductions in strength and stiffness at elevated temperature, together with progressive damage accumulation under cyclic loading. Failure features observed after fatigue testing were correlated with static mechanical properties to improve understanding of degradation behavior. The study is limited to the mechanical and fatigue characterization of EPGC 203 and does not include dielectric evaluation. Therefore, its relevance to HV applications is considered from the standpoint of the mechanical reliability of structural insulating components. The findings provide essential insights into the durability and reliability of EPGC 203 composites under realistic service conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 8165 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pickering-Stabilized Breath Figure Assembly of CNWs-TiO₂/PLA Porous Films: Synergistic Reinforcement and Functional Grading

by Ting Zhang, Junhao Liang, Bin Wang, Bohua Wen, Zhengyang Xi, Xuyang Zhao and Xinhai He

Polymers 2026, 18(13), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18131602 - 28 Jun 2026

Viewed by 305

Abstract

(1) Background: The development of biodegradable polymers with enhanced functionality is critical for advancing sustainable packaging technologies. This study addresses the challenge of simultaneously improving the structural rigidity and functional performance of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) materials. (2) Methods: Cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) and TiO₂ nanoparticle (Nano-TiO₂) reinforced PLA porous composite films were fabricated via a nanoparticle-assisted breath figure method. The effects of these hybrid nanoparticles on the morphology, thermal stability, and structure of the resulting composites were systematically investigated. (3) Results: The incorporation of CNWs and Nano-TiO₂ played a dual role: they acted as Pickering-like stabilizers at the water/polymer interface, preventing droplet coalescence and facilitating the formation of a well-defined honeycomb-like porous structure. They also significantly enhanced the relative crystallinity of the PLA matrix from 20.26% to 36.31%, owing to the heterogeneous nucleation effect. Consequently, the mechanical properties were significantly enhanced, with the maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus increasing by 123.3% and 21.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the composite films exhibited excellent UV-shielding performance, achieving an SR UV-B of 97.6%. (4) Conclusions: The synergistic reinforcement of CNWs and Nano-TiO₂ effectively endows PLA composites with superior mechanical properties and functional protection. These findings establish the CNWs-Nano-TiO₂/PLA composite film as a promising candidate for high-performance smart packaging applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 3061 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Absorption Dominated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Enabled by Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Reinforced Electrospun PVDF Nanocomposite

by Hisham Bamufleh, Usman Saeed, Abdulrahim Alzahrani, Aqeel Ahmad Taimoor, Sami-ullah Rather, Hesham Alhumade, Walid M. Alalayah and Hamad AlTuraif

Polymers 2026, 18(7), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18070789 - 25 Mar 2026

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1418

Abstract

The increasing density of wireless and wearable electronic devices necessitates the development of lightweight, flexible, and absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. In this study, electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite mats reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets at low filler loadings (1–3 wt.%) were fabricated and systematically investigated for X-band (8.0–12.5 GHz) EMI shielding performance. Raman, FTIR, and thermal analyses confirm enhanced electroactive β-phase formation and improved thermal stability upon nanofiller incorporation. The formation of interconnected conductive networks within the electrospun fibrous architecture leads to a significant increase in electrical conductivity from 10⁻⁷ S·cm⁻¹ for pure PVDF to 10⁻² S·cm⁻¹ and 10⁻¹ S·cm⁻¹ for CNT/PVDF and Graphene/PVDF composites, respectively, at 3 wt.% loading. Consequently, the total EMI shielding effectiveness (SE_T) increases from 2.5 dB for pure PVDF to 40 dB for CNT/PVDF and 42 dB for graphene/PVDF composites at 3 wt.%. The shielding effectiveness arising from absorption (SE_A) dominates the overall EMI shielding performance, contributing more than 85% of the total shielding effectiveness (SE_T), which clearly indicates an absorption-controlled shielding mechanism. The combination of high absorption-dominated EMI shielding, low filler content, and mechanical flexibility highlights these electrospun CNT/PVDF and graphene/PVDF composites as promising candidates for next-generation flexible, wearable, and biomedical EMI shielding applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 2597 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multiscale Synergistic Investigation on the Mechanical and Tribological Performances of Graphene-Reinforced PEEK/PTFE Composites

by Yan Wang, Kaiqi Dong, Henan Tang, Bin Yang and Shijie Wang

Polymers 2026, 18(3), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18030308 - 23 Jan 2026

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 991

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a self-lubricating material but has poor wear resistance. The wear resistance of the composites was enhanced by the incorporation of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), whereas the friction-reducing performance was compromised, thus resulting in an inherent trade-off between wear resistance and lubricity. Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) with high strength and lubricity were introduced as a reinforcement for PEEK/PTFE composites. Composite specimens with varying GNS contents were fabricated and characterized for their mechanical and tribological properties and wear morphologies. Combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the micro-mechanisms were further elucidated. The optimal GNS content was determined to be 2 wt%, which improved the tensile strength by 10.58% and reduced the wear rate by 17.88% compared to PEEK/PTFE. It achieved the synchronous enhancement of mechanical strength and wear resistance while maintaining desirable friction-reducing performance. MD simulation results demonstrated that the strong interfacial interactions between GNSx and the polymer enabled GNSs to adsorb polymer chains and form a dense rigid network with reduced free volume (FV). The mechanical properties were enhanced by efficient load transfer and the suppression of interfacial delamination enabled by this unique structure; meanwhile, wear resistance was improved due to the mitigation of friction-induced molecular chain scission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites)

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Review

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29 pages, 2321 KB

Open AccessReview

Mode I Debonding Characterisation in Polymer-Based Sandwich Structures: A Review of Experimental Methods

by Amal Alliyankal Vijayakumar, Francesca Lionetto and Alfonso Maffezzoli

Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121512 - 17 Jun 2026

Viewed by 550

Abstract

Polymer-based sandwich structures are widely used for their lightweight and tailorable properties, but interfacial failure phenomena often govern their performance. Among these, Mode I skin/core debonding is a critical mechanism that limits structural reliability. This review provides a unified and critical assessment of experimental methodologies for Mode I fracture characterisation, focusing on the ASTM D8637/D8637M standard and alternative setups, including Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), Single Cantilever Beam (SCB), and Climbing Drum Peel (CDP) tests. Alongside the influence of geometrical factors, processing conditions and intrinsic polymer properties on Mode I characterisation are detailed. Conventional DCB setups are shown to introduce mixed-mode effects due to asymmetric loading. In contrast, the modified DCB-UBM setup achieves near-pure Mode I conditions at the expense of increased complexity. Comparative analysis indicates that the SCB configuration with a roller base outperforms the standardised flexible-rod setup, particularly for specimens with non-linear responses. The review also indicates that Mode I debonding behaviour is strongly influenced by several factors, including interfacial adhesion quality, constituent material properties, manufacturing-induced defects, specimen configurations, and environmental factors. Therefore, the interpretation of debonding performance requires a comprehensive structure–property–processing framework. Moreover, geometric constraints imposed by ASTM D8637/D8637M are also revisited, demonstrating that reduced-dimension specimens can yield comparable fracture toughness, thereby enabling greater design flexibility. Additionally, while the standard prescribes Modified Beam Theory (MBT) and Area Method (AM) for initiation and propagation, both methods provide comparable propagation toughness under linear conditions. For non-linear systems, alternative data reductions based on CDP concepts, with the SCB–roller base setup, are effective. Based on this assessment, key challenges and potential improvements are identified, guiding the development of more accurate and reliable testing methodologies for polymer sandwich structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites)

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