polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Advanced Polymeric Films for Functional Applications

A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1043

Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Mecánica Aplicada e Ingeniería de Proyectos, Escuela de Ingeniería Minera e Industrial de Almadén, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Almadén, Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: polymer nanocomposite films; scanning probe microscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapidly evolving field of polymeric films offers immense potential for advanced functional applications across diverse sectors such as energy, healthcare, packaging, electronics, and environmental protection. For this Special Issue, we invite high-quality research and reviews that explore novel structures, processing approaches, and interfacial designs driving innovative functional advances. Particular emphasis will be placed on bio-based and sustainable polymers, smart and responsive films, and polymer nanocomposites with tailored interfacial interactions that enhance mechanical, thermal, barrier, and optical performance. Of particular interest are studies that link functionality to structural features—such as supramolecular organization, ionic interactions, crystallinity, and fractal-like morphologies—providing new insights into how polymer architecture governs performance. Contributions addressing emerging applications—including drug delivery, nanogenerators for energy harvesting, adaptive soft materials, flexible electronics, sensors, membranes for separation and water purification, and protective coatings—are especially encouraged. This Special Issue is aimed at providing a platform for researchers to showcase innovations that bridge the gap between fundamental science and real-world applications, advancing the role of polymeric films and nanocomposites in meeting modern technological and societal challenges.

Prof. Dr. Teresa Cuberes
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 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 nanocomposites
  • structure–property relationships
  • functional applications
  • crystallinity degree
  • cross-linking density
  • supramolecular organization
  • fractal-like morphologies
  • drug delivery
  • nanogenerators
  • water purification

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

24 pages, 25141 KB  
Article
Starch–ZnAl Layered Double-Hydroxide Nanocomposites and PVDF Membrane Nanofillers for the Sustainable Recovery of Dye-Contaminated Water
by Mukarram Zubair, Nuhu Dalhat Muazu, Taye Saheed Kazeem, Muhammad Daud, Mohammad Saood Manzar, Hamza Zahir, Hessa Al-Qahtani, Ahmad Hussaini Jagaba, Omer Aga, Jwaher M. AlGhamdi and Munirah Abdullah Al-Messiere
Polymers 2026, 18(18), 2248; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18182248 - 15 Sep 2026
Abstract
This study presents a starch-modified calcined-ZnAl layered double-hydroxide (S-C-ZnAl-LDH) nanocomposite as a multifunctional nanofiller for poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) efficiently performing, simultaneously, ultrafiltration membrane filtration and efficient adsorbent for the recovery of Acid Blue dye-contaminated water. The synergistic effects of starch modification and thermal [...] Read more.
This study presents a starch-modified calcined-ZnAl layered double-hydroxide (S-C-ZnAl-LDH) nanocomposite as a multifunctional nanofiller for poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) efficiently performing, simultaneously, ultrafiltration membrane filtration and efficient adsorbent for the recovery of Acid Blue dye-contaminated water. The synergistic effects of starch modification and thermal activation on nanofiller structure, interfacial compatibility, and membrane performance were systematically investigated through a comparison with pristine ZnAl-LDH, calcined ZnAl-LDH, starch-modified ZnAl-LDH, and calcined starch-modified ZnAl-LDH. SEM, TEM, and XRD analyses confirmed the formation of hierarchical layered nanosheet architectures with a uniform dispersion of crystalline ZnAl domains within a partially amorphous starch matrix, promoting enhanced polymer–nanofiller interfacial interactions Adsorption performance was influenced by solution pH, initial dye concentration, and temperature. Nonlinear kinetic analysis showed that the PFO model described the kinetic data better. However, the overall kinetic modeling findings suggest that Acid Blue 92 adsorption is governed by a combination of physicochemical interactions, suggesting a complex adsorption mechanism was involved. The starch-modified nanocomposite exhibited excellent regeneration stability, retaining approximately 88–90% of its adsorption capacity after five adsorption–desorption cycles. More importantly, the incorporation of S-C-ZnAl-LDH into PVDF membranes significantly enhanced membrane functionality, increasing water flux and permeance by 42.9% and 25%, respectively, while improving Acid Blue rejection by 35.7% to approximately 98%. These improvements are attributed to enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, optimized nanofiller dispersion, and favorable polymer–filler interfacial interactions that facilitate water transport while maintaining high separation efficiency. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for integrating renewable bio-based modifiers with layered nanomaterials to engineer advanced polymeric films exhibiting enhanced permeability, selectivity, durability, and reusability, providing a sustainable platform for multifunctional membrane technologies in water purification and environmental protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Films for Functional Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7554 KB  
Article
The Impact of Biomass Treatment and Plasticizers on the Properties of Chicken Feather-Based Biodegradable Films
by Sarah Montes, Emmi Nuutinen, Julen Vadillo, Alaitz Rekondo, Hans-Jürgen Grande and Jonna Almqvist
Polymers 2026, 18(8), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080969 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 615
Abstract
The poultry sector generates large amounts of feather waste every year, providing an abundant keratin-rich residue that is difficult to valorise due to its crosslinked and highly compacted crystalline structure. In the present work, with the aim of promoting its use in biodegradable [...] Read more.
The poultry sector generates large amounts of feather waste every year, providing an abundant keratin-rich residue that is difficult to valorise due to its crosslinked and highly compacted crystalline structure. In the present work, with the aim of promoting its use in biodegradable plastic films, environmentally friendly processes, such as mechanical grinding (compactor grinder, CG), deep eutectic solvents (DES), and steam explosion process (SE) are being explored as alternatives to conventional chemical processes. Thus, biodegradable feather-based films were produced by compounding treated feathers in a torque rheometer at 40 wt.% with glycerol, ethylene glycol, and 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), followed by hot pressing. All formulations produced homogeneous and translucent films, which were characterized in terms of colorimetric properties and thermal and mechanical behaviour, as well as their degradation in soil conditions, revealing pronounced differences in properties as a function of the specific combination of feather treatment and plasticizer employed. Interestingly, soil disintegration tests revealed the fastest degradation of films of DES-treated feathers plasticized with glycerol. Overall, controlling feather treatment and plasticizer type enables tuning of mechanical performance and biodegradation, supporting keratin-based films as a viable route for feather waste valorisation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Films for Functional Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop