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Functional Multiphase Polymer Blends: Flow Induced Morphology in Complex Fluids and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2024) | Viewed by 1386

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. DICMaPI, Università di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
2. CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80131 Napoli, Italy
3. INSTM, Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, UdR INSTM Napoli Federico II, P. le Tecchio, 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Interests: thermodynamics; transport phenomena; chemical engineering; rheology; microstructured systems; multiphase fluids; soft matter; intefaces; active matter; time lapse microscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. DICMaPI, Università di Napoli Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
2. CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, Via Gaetano Salvatore, 486, 80131 Napoli, Italy
Interests: transport phenomena; chemical engineering; surfactants; living systems; cellular spheroids; hydrogels; rheometry; viscoelasticity; flow; dissolution; confocal microscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, polymer blends have garnered substantial attention owing to their remarkable versatility and extensive array of applications. Within the realm of this Special Issue, we delve into the intricate interplay between flow-induced morphology of multiphase fluids and the functional attributes inherent in polymer blends, thereby illuminating their potential utility across diverse technological domains.

Polymer blends, alongside other complex fluids, such as emulsions, suspensions, colloids, and liquid crystals, exhibit a diverse spectrum of flow-responsive behaviors. These complex behaviors are primarily shaped by flow-induced processes, including but not limited to phase separation, rheological transitions, and self-assembly. Such processes wield a profound influence, molding the morphology and functionality of these materials to cater to specific applications.

We cordially invite contributions that delve into multiple facets of this dynamic field. These include advancements in constitutive modeling, strategies for optimizing morphology through flow-induced processes, pioneering techniques for characterizing flow-induced morphology at various length scales, innovative applications of multiphase complex fluids, the design and development of materials responsive to external stimuli, comprehensive studies on the flow-induced behaviors and applications of colloidal systems in different industrial sectors, and the exploration of sustainable applications, encompassing green energy and environmental remediation. Moreover, we acknowledge the emergence of green solvents in industrial applications, which introduce new challenges in terms of complex fluid stabilization and processing.

This Special Issue stands as a pivotal platform for the exhibition of the latest discoveries and advancements that are poised to mold the future of polymer science and technology.

Sincerly,
Prof. Dr. Sergio Caserta
Dr. Rosalia Ferraro
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

  • polymer blends
  • complex fluids
  • flow-induced morphology
  • colloidal systems
  • phase transitions
  • multiphase systems
  • droplets
  • microstructure

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3111 KiB  
Article
Novel Optical Methodology Unveils the Impact of a Polymeric Pour-Point Depressant on the Phase Morphology of Waxy Crude Oils
by Irene Perna, Rosalia Ferraro, Consiglia Carillo, Salvatore Coppola and Sergio Caserta
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1933; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131933 - 6 Jul 2024
Viewed by 986
Abstract
Crude oil, also known as petroleum, plays a crucial role in global economies, politics, and technological advancements due to its widespread applications in industrial organic chemistry. Despite environmental concerns, the dwindling supply of easily accessible oil reservoirs necessitates the exploration of unconventional resources, [...] Read more.
Crude oil, also known as petroleum, plays a crucial role in global economies, politics, and technological advancements due to its widespread applications in industrial organic chemistry. Despite environmental concerns, the dwindling supply of easily accessible oil reservoirs necessitates the exploration of unconventional resources, such as heavy and extra-heavy oils. These oils, characterized by high viscosity and complex composition, pose challenges in extraction, transportation, and refinement. With decreasing temperatures, heavy oils undergo phase changes, with transitions from Newtonian to non-Newtonian fluid behavior, leading to difficulties in transportation. Alternative methods, such as the use of polymeric pour-point depressants, help mitigate flowability issues by preventing wax precipitation. Understanding the properties of waxy crude oil, such as the wax appearance temperature (WAT), is crucial for effective mitigation strategies. The objective of this research is to determine the WATs of different types of waxy crude oils through a comparative analysis using advanced techniques such as cross-polar microscopy (CPM), standard rheology, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Disparities in WAT identified through different analytical methods highlight the potential of microscopy to enhance our understanding of complex fluid dynamics in real time in order to proactively identify and address crystallization issues in oilfields. Full article
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