Radiation-Induced Modifications in Polymers and Graft Copolymerization: Mechanisms and Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 1054
Special Issue Editors
Interests: gamma irradiation; total absorbed dose; dose rate; polymers characterization; spectroscopic materials characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: gamma irradiation; total absorbed dose; dose rate; polymers synthesis and characterization; spectroscopic techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: polymers; biomaterials; radiation engineering; nuclear engineering; environmental effects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ionizing radiation is a versatile tool for the synthesis and functional modification of polymeric materials. Exposure to high-energy radiation sources, such as gamma rays, X-rays, or electron beams, induces the formation of reactive species within the polymer matrix promoting a series of chemical reactions that modify the polymer’s molecular structure.
Ionizing radiation induces key modifications in polymers, including crosslinking, which enhances mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability; degradation, which reduces molecular weight and can facilitate recycling or biodegradability; and grafting, which introduces functional groups or polymer chains to tailor surface properties for specific applications such as biomedical or environmental use.
The extent and nature of these modifications depend on several factors, including the type and dose of radiation, the chemical structure of the polymer, and the environmental conditions during irradiation. This technique is widely applied in fields such as packaging, medicine, electronics, and environmental engineering.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on (but not limited to) the polymer modification induced by ionizing radiation. Researchers from academia and industry are encouraged to share their latest investigations regarding effects on polymer properties, potential applications in various sectors, and associated technological innovations.
Dr. Jessica Scifo
Dr. Rocco Carcione
Prof. Dr. Mohamad Al-Sheikhly
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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.
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
- ionizing radiation
- polymers
- polymer composites
- crosslinking
- degradation
- grafting
- functionalization
- surface modification
- interface properties
- morphological and structural characterizations
- total absorbed dose
- dose rate
- sensors and devices
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