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Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 7859

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Dr. Mei-Chen Lin

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Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Interests: fiber and functional textiles; polymer matrix composite materials; artificial medical materials; nanocomposites
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Prof. Dr. Limin Bao

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Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano Prefecture 390-8621, Japan
Interests: green composite materials; carbon fiber composite materials; mechanical properties of composite materials (stretching, puncture, three-point bending, etc.); mechanical analysis simulation systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Further to the success of the Special Issue of Polymers, entitled “Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 2nd Edition”, we are delighted to reopen the Special Issue, now entitled “Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition”.

The development of composite materials, which could be made of thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers after reinforcement, is diversified because these materials are used in many applications and exhibit a strong performance. This Special Issue on “Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites” is mainly related to the fields of composite material engineering and scientific studies. Innovative research based on the various mechanical properties of composite materials and dynamic analysis is invited. The research content of the studies includes purpose and innovation, material production and processing, reinforcement methods, and the theory of composite materials combined with multiple materials. We look forward to making breakthroughs in the field of composite materials and profound discussions and gains in relation to the mechanical properties, processing methods, and application discussions of composite materials.

Dr. Mei-Chen Lin
Prof. Dr. Limin Bao
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

polymer matrix
composite materials
mechanical
dynamic analysis
strength
fiber
modulus
resin
nanocomposites
fabrication
manufacture

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 10403 KB

Open AccessArticle

Composition-Dependent Mechanical and Thermal Behavior of TPU-Modified PLA and ABS Filaments for FDM Applications

by Burak Demirtas, Caglar Sevim and Munise Didem Demirbas

Polymers 2026, 18(8), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080949 - 13 Apr 2026

Viewed by 320

Abstract

Although polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) are among the most widely used polymers in material extrusion, their limited toughness and energy-absorption capacity often restrict the structural performance of 3D-printed functional components. To address the limited comparative understanding of how thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) modifies the deformation behavior and phase characteristics of these two polymer systems, this study presents a multi-analytical evaluation of TPU-reinforced PLA and ABS blends. To this end, both polymers were blended with TPU at 10–50 wt% and processed into filaments via single-screw extrusion. The resulting filaments were used to fabricate ASTM D638 Type I tensile specimens via material extrusion under matrix-specific, but internally consistent, printing parameters. For each composition, five specimens were tested to obtain representative values of tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness. In addition to conventional tensile testing, the evolution of strain during deformation was monitored using digital image correlation (DIC), enabling full-field characterization of local deformation behavior. To ensure experimental reliability, specimen masses were carefully controlled, and the datasets were analyzed using MATLAB. Thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the influence of TPU on glass transition, melting behavior, and phase mobility, and to relate these thermal characteristics to the mechanical response of the blends. The incorporation of TPU significantly increased ductility and energy absorption in both polymer matrices, although the magnitude of improvement differed. ABS/TPU blends exhibited the highest toughness enhancement, reaching 221.4% at 30 wt% TPU, while PLA/TPU systems showed nearly a twofold increase at 20 wt% TPU. DIC analysis further revealed a transition from localized brittle deformation in neat polymers to more distributed plastic deformation with increasing TPU content. DSC results indicated reduced crystallinity in PLA-rich blends and enhanced segmental mobility in ABS-based systems, consistent with the observed mechanical behavior. Overall, the combined mechanical, optical, and thermal analyses demonstrate that the optimal TPU content is matrix-dependent, providing practical guidelines for tailoring PLA- and ABS-based filaments to achieve a controlled balance between stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption in material extrusion applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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19 pages, 3564 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Architected Core Topology on the Dynamic and Flexural Behaviour of Multi-Material Sandwich Structures

by Hilal Doğanay Katı and Muhammad Khan

Polymers 2026, 18(6), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060711 - 14 Mar 2026

Viewed by 469

Abstract

The integration of mechanics-based analysis and materials design procedures has become central to the development of multi-material structures with tailored mechanical and dynamic performance. In this study, the dynamic and flexural behaviour of multi-material FDM sandwich beams composed of PETG face sheets and an ABS core is experimentally investigated. Seven different infill patterns Grid, Line, Wavy, Honeycomb, Gyroid, Cubic, and Triangle were implemented in the core layer to assess their influence on damping and natural frequency behaviour. Experimental modal analysis was performed using impact testing to identify the first three vibration modes. Natural frequencies were extracted from Frequency Response Functions (FRFs), and modal damping ratios were determined using the half-power bandwidth method. The reliability of the damping results was evaluated through statistical analysis. Additionally, quasi-static three-point bending tests were conducted to assess flexural strength and load-carrying capacity. The results demonstrate that infill topology has a significant impact on both dynamic and mechanical responses. In particular, geometrically complex infill patterns exhibit enhanced stiffness, higher natural frequencies, and improved damping performance. Among the investigated designs, the Triangle infill exhibited the highest natural frequency values across the first three vibration modes (f₁ ≈ 24.910 Hz, f₂ ≈ 162.609 Hz, f ≈ 466.595 Hz), indicating its superior stiffness characteristics. In terms of damping behaviour, the Cubic infill showed the highest loss factor in the first vibration mode (0.0426), while the Line and Gyroid patterns exhibited the highest damping in the second (0.0439) and third modes (0.0354), respectively. Moreover, the force–displacement results revealed that the Triangle infill exhibited the highest load-bearing capacity, further confirming its superior structural stiffness among the investigated designs (SEA = 110.83 J/kg). These findings highlight the potential of multi-material FDM for designing polymer-based sandwich structures with tailored vibration and energy dissipation characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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21 pages, 1877 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical and Dynamic Performance of a High-RAP Half-Warm Asphalt Polymeric Composite for Rapid Pavement Repair

by Shanelle Aira Rodrigazo, Ik Hyun Hwang, Junhwi Cho, Ilhwan You, Kwan Kyu Kim and Jaeheum Yeon

Polymers 2026, 18(6), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060676 - 11 Mar 2026

Viewed by 391

Abstract

High reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) half-warm mix asphalt (HWMA) mixtures provide a low-energy alternative for pavement repair but often suffer from insufficient binder activation and reduced mechanical performance at low production temperatures. This study develops a high-RAP (73.8%) half-warm repair mixture using a dual-additive system comprising a rejuvenator and a low-temperature composite additive. The mixture was designed to enable effective mixing and compaction at temperatures as low as 60 °C. The optimized formulation achieved a 5.84 kN Marshall stability, 7.0% voids in total mixture, 80% retained Marshall stability after moisture conditioning, and approximately 1100 passes/mm dynamic stability. Temperature sensitivity analysis showed that stability increased from 4.50 kN at 50 °C to 9.20 kN at 90 °C with corresponding VTM reduction from 15.2% to 4.8%. The results demonstrate that a high-RAP HWMA repair mixture can satisfy mechanical and durability requirements while being produced at substantially reduced temperatures, supporting practical and sustainable pavement maintenance applications. The study further provides mixture-scale evidence that a dual-additive strategy can stabilize high-RAP mixtures under very low half-warm production temperatures (≈60–70 °C), which are representative of rapid repair conditions and remain insufficiently investigated in existing WMA–RAP research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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22 pages, 7153 KB

Open AccessArticle

High-Pressure Phase Behavior of α-Olefin + n-Hexane + Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymer Systems: Experimental Study and Modeling

by Ruijun Zhang, Ziyi Dong, Qiqi He, Junhua Li, Yuexin Hu and Jianhua Qian

Polymers 2026, 18(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18010064 - 25 Dec 2025

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Abstract

Accurate knowledge of phase behavior in polyolefin–solvent mixtures is critical for ensuring stable operation and safe scale-up of industrial solution polymerization processes. The binary (n-hexane + ethylene/1-octene copolymer, POE96k-10) and ternary (α-olefin + n-hexane + POE96k-10) phase behaviors were investigated via a visual high-pressure cell (POE96k-10: M_w = 96 kg·mol^–1, M_w/M_n = 3.87, 1-octene mole fraction = 10.31 mol%) at temperatures of 380~480 K and pressures as high as 14 MPa. To systematically analyze the effects of α-olefin mass fraction and type on phase transition, four industrially relevant α-olefins (ethylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene) were investigated. The results show that the phase transition temperature and pressure for liquid–liquid and liquid–vapor transitions show an approximately linear dependence on α-olefin mass fraction. Ethylene, 1-butene, and 1-hexene lower the phase transition temperature, whereas 1-octene increases it. Ethylene exhibits a strong anti-solvent effect, significantly lowering the transition temperature while increasing the phase transition pressure. The modified Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state (MSL EOS) effectively correlates and reproduces the phase equilibrium data of the α-olefin + n-hexane + POE96k-10 ternary systems, though its accuracy decreases with increasing α-olefin chain length. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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28 pages, 3481 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Characterization of Scented PLA-Based Biocomposites Reinforced with Spent Coffee Grounds and Lignin for FDM 3D Printing

by Zeineb Siala, Ahmed Koubaa, Sofiane Guessasma, Nicolas Stephant, Ahmed Elloumi and Martin Beauregard

Polymers 2025, 17(21), 2836; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212836 - 24 Oct 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1661

Abstract

This study investigates the development of biodegradable, scented bio-composite filaments incorporating industrial residues, specifically spent coffee grounds (SCG) and lignin (LI), into a PLA matrix for FDM 3D printing. Two fragrance additives, essential oil (EO) and microencapsulated fragrance powder (FP), were introduced (3%) to enhance sensory properties. The research investigates the effects of filler content (5%, 10%, and 15%) and fragrance additives on the surface chemistry (FTIR), thermal stability (TGA and DSC), mechanical properties (Tensile, flexural and impact), microstructure, and dimensional stability (Water absorption test and thickness swelling). Incorporating industrial residues and additives into PLA reduced the thermal stability, the degradation temperature and the glass transition temperature but increased the residual mass and the crystallinity. The effect of lignin was more pronounced than that of SCG, significantly influencing these thermal properties. Increasing the filler content of spent coffee grounds and lignin also led to a progressive decrease in tensile, flexural, and impact strength due to poor interfacial adhesion and increased void formation. However, lignin-based biocomposites exhibited enhanced stiffness at lower concentrations (≤10%), while biocomposites containing 15% SCG doubled their elongation at break compared to pure PLA. Adding fragrance reduced the mechanical strength but improved ductility due to plasticizer-like interactions. Microstructural analysis revealed heterogeneity in the biocomposites’ fracture surface characterized by the presence of pores, filler agglomeration, and delamination, indicating uneven filler dispersion and limited interfacial adhesion, particularly at high filler concentrations. The water absorption and dimensional stability of 3D-printed biocomposites increased progressively with the addition of residues. The presence of essential oil slightly improved water resistance by forming hydrogen bonds that limited moisture absorption. This article adds significant value by extending the potential applications of biocomposites beyond conventional engineering uses, making them particularly suitable for the fashion and design sectors, where multi-sensory and sustainable materials are increasingly sought after. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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17 pages, 8493 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Surface-Modified Mica in Hybrid Filler Systems on the Curing and Mechanical Behavior of Ethylene–Propylene–Diene Monomer (EPDM)/Butadiene Rubber (BR) Blend

by Won-Young Jung, Seong-Woo Cho and Keon-Soo Jang

Polymers 2025, 17(16), 2250; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17162250 - 20 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1297

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of hybrid filler systems comprising carbon black (CB), mica, and surface-modified mica (SM) on the properties of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM)/butadiene rubber (PB) composites. To reduce the environmental issues associated with CB, mica was incorporated as a partial substitute, and its compatibility with the rubber matrix was enhanced through surface modification using ureidopropyltrimethoxysilane (URE). The composites with hybrid filler systems and surface modification were evaluated in terms of curing behavior, crosslink density, mechanical and elastic properties, and dynamic viscoelasticity. Rheological analysis revealed that high mica loadings delayed vulcanization due to reduced thermal conductivity and accelerator adsorption, whereas SM composites maintained comparable curing performance. Swelling tests showed a reduction in crosslink density with increased unmodified mica content, while SM-filled samples improved the network density, confirming enhanced interfacial interaction. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the rubber compounds containing SM exhibited average improvements of 17% in tensile strength and 20% in toughness. In particular, the CB20/SM10 formulation achieved a well-balanced enhancement in tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness, surpassing the performance of the CB-only system. Furthermore, rebound resilience and Tan δ analyses showed that low SM content reduced energy dissipation and improved elasticity, whereas excessive filler loadings led to increased hysteresis. The compression set results supported the thermal stability and recovery capacity of the SM-containing systems. Overall, the results demonstrated that the hybrid filler system incorporating URE-modified mica significantly enhanced filler dispersion and rubber–filler interaction, offering a sustainable and high-performance solution for elastomer composite applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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20 pages, 14936 KB

Open AccessArticle

Viscosity, Morphology, and Thermomechanical Performance of Attapulgite-Reinforced Bio-Based Polyurethane Asphalt Composites

by Haocheng Yang, Suzhou Cao, Xinpeng Cui, Zhonghua Xi, Jun Cai, Zuanru Yuan, Junsheng Zhang and Hongfeng Xie

Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152045 - 26 Jul 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1234

Abstract

Bio-based polyurethane asphalt binder (PUAB) derived from castor oil (CO) is environmentally friendly and exhibits extended allowable construction time. However, CO imparts inherently poor mechanical performance to bio-based PUAB. To address this limitation, attapulgite (ATT) with fibrous nanostructures was incorporated. The effects of ATT on bio-based PUAB were systematically investigated, including cure kinetics, rotational viscosity (RV) evolution, phase-separation microstructures, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, and mechanical performance. Experimental characterization employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brookfield viscometry, laser scanning confocal microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetry, and tensile testing. ATT incorporation accelerated the polyaddition reaction conversion between isocyanate groups in polyurethane (PU) and hydroxyl groups in ATT. Paradoxically, it reduced RV during curing, prolonging allowable construction time proportionally with clay content. Additionally, ATT’s compatibilizing effect decreased bitumen particle size in PUAB, with scaling proportionally with clay loading. While enhancing thermal stability, ATT lowered the glass transition temperature and damping properties. Crucially, 1 wt% ATT increased tensile strength by 71% and toughness by 62%, while maintaining high elongation at break (>400%). The cost-effectiveness and significant reinforcement capability of ATT make it a promising candidate for producing high-performance bio-based PUAB composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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15 pages, 2217 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy-Based Approach for Fatigue Life Prediction of Additively Manufactured ABS/GNP Composites

by Soran Hassanifard and Kamran Behdinan

Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152032 - 25 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1024

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of energy-based models for fatigue life prediction of additively manufactured acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) composites. The effects of varying GNP weight percentages and filament raster orientations on the fatigue life of the samples were investigated theoretically. The required stress and strain values for use in energy-based models were obtained by solving two sets of Neuber and Ramberg–Osgood equations, utilizing the available values of notch strength reduction factors at each load level and the average Young modulus for each composite material. Results revealed that none of the studied energy-based models could accurately predict the fatigue life of the samples across the entire high- and low-cycle fatigue regimes, with strong dependence on the stress ratio (R). Instead, a novel fatigue life prediction model was developed by combining two existing energy-based models, incorporating stress ratio dependence for cases with negative mean stress. This model was tested for R values roughly between −0.22 and 0. Results showed that, for all samples at each raster orientation, most of the predicted fatigue lives fell within the upper and lower bounds, with a factor of ±2 across the entire range of load levels. These findings highlight the reliability of the proposed model for a wide range of R values when mean stress is negative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Polymeric Composites, 3rd Edition)

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