Radiation-Induced Modifications in Polymers and Graft Copolymerization: Mechanisms and Applications

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

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.