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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 17215

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Dr. Yunfa Zhang

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Guest Editor

Aerospace Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: polymers and composites; nanocomposites; finite element analysis; failure analysis; viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity; mechanical testing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The response of polymers to external or internal forces can vary considerably depending on the magnitude of these forces and the material characteristics. While the stress–strain behaviors of some polymers might look similar to those of metals, polymers are mechanically different to metals. Fully understanding the unique mechanical behaviors and properties of polymers is vital not only to their industrial and engineering applications but also to the development of novel materials such as polymeric composites, nanocomposites, and additively manufactured polymer products. In particular, improved/appropriate mechanical behaviors and properties are crucial to the successful development of novel materials in which a polymer is the major constituent, and this has made the study of the mechanical behaviors and properties of polymers an increasingly active area.

This Special Issue aims to promptly publish recent studies focused on the mechanical behaviors and properties of polymer materials. Proposed topics of interest for this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) the following:

Fiber-reinforced polymeric composites and nanocomposites;
Mechanical behaviors under adverse environmental conditions;
Multiaxial loading response of polymers;
Viscoelastic and viscoplastic characterization and modeling;
Impact, fatigue, and damage/failure mechanisms;
Influences of processing on mechanical properties;
Mechanical behaviors of additively manufactured polymer products.

Dr. Yunfa Zhang
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-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

mechanical properties
fiber composites and nanocomposites
damage and failure
viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity
impact
fatigue
additive manufacturing

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Related Special Issue

Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials in Polymers (10 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2769 KB

Open AccessArticle

High-Temperature Tensile and Creep Properties of Highly Strong Heat-Elongated Polypropylene

by Karin Onaka and Hiromu Saito

Polymers 2026, 18(4), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18040469 - 12 Feb 2026

Viewed by 741

Abstract

We investigated the high-temperature tensile and creep properties of highly strong heat-elongated polypropylene (elongated PP) before and after long annealing for 21 days at a high temperature of 120 °C. Despite the thermal deterioration caused by the long annealing, the elongated PP exhibited high tensile strength. The yield stress values of the elongated and long-annealed (LA)-elongated PP obtained from engineering stress–strain curves were 60 MPa and 102 MPa, respectively, at 120 °C, whereas that of the unelongated PP was 8 MPa. Due to the suppression of crystalline chain motion at high temperature caused by the presence of crystalline fibrils connected to lamellae, as indicated by the high elastic modulus observed using a dynamic mechanical analyzer, the elongated PP also exhibited excellent high-temperature creep properties despite thermal deterioration. Small-angle X-ray scattering and DSC measurements revealed that lamellae were fragmented in the elongated PP, while the fragmentation of lamellae was suppressed in the LA-elongated PP during tensile stretching and creep. These characteristic deformation behaviors might also provide excellent high-temperature properties. The excellent high-temperature properties of the elongated PP are promising for industrial applications that require resistance to high temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 4133 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Characterization of PLA+ Specimens with Different Geometries Using Experimental and Numerical Methods

by Mete Han Boztepe and Mehmet Haskul

Polymers 2026, 18(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020243 - 16 Jan 2026

Viewed by 686

Abstract

Geometric discontinuities are unavoidable in additively manufactured polymer components and can significantly alter their mechanical response; however, their effects are rarely quantified in a systematic and geometry-comparative manner. In this study, the tensile behavior of FDM-printed PLA+ specimens with three different geometries—dog-bone, circular-hole, and U-notched (manufactured and tested in accordance with ASTM D638 (Type IV))—was experimentally and numerically investigated. Tensile tests were conducted using a universal testing machine equipped with an extensometer, while finite element simulations were performed using an experimentally calibrated Ramberg–Osgood-based elastic–plastic material model. The dog-bone specimens exhibited an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 41–43 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 3.06 GPa, representing the intrinsic material response under nearly homogeneous stress conditions. Circular-hole specimens maintained comparable strength (38–42 MPa) but showed reduced ductility (1.4–1.6%) and a slightly increased apparent modulus of 3.17 GPa due to localized deformation. In contrast, U-notched specimens displayed the highest apparent modulus (≈5.30 GPa) and nominal UTS (46–49 MPa), accompanied by a pronounced reduction in ductility (0.9–1.0%), indicating severe stress concentration and predominantly brittle fracture behavior. Finite element analysis showed excellent agreement with experimental results, with peak von Mises stresses reaching approximately 42 MPa for all geometries, corresponding closely to the experimentally measured tensile strength. These results demonstrate that geometric discontinuities strongly govern stress localization, apparent stiffness, and fracture initiation in FDM-printed PLA+ components. The validated Ramberg–Osgood-based modeling framework provides a reliable tool for predicting geometry-dependent mechanical behavior under quasi-static loading and supports geometry-aware design of additively manufactured polymer structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2336 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Buckling Performance of Thin-Walled Plastic Structures Through Material Optimization

by Alexander Busch, Olaf Bruch and Dirk Reith

Polymers 2025, 17(19), 2697; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17192697 - 7 Oct 2025

Viewed by 836

Abstract

Reducing material usage in plastic products is a key lever for improving resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. In thin-walled structures subjected to mechanical loading, material efficiency must be achieved without compromising structural performance. In particular, resistance to buckling, a critical failure mode, must be taken into account during product development. Due to the large number of design and process variables, many of which are interdependent, optimization approaches are uncommon in the blow-molded packaging industry. This paper presents a sensitivity-based optimization approach to improve buckling resistance by modifying the product’s material distribution. Since the sensitivity is nonlinear and depends on the product’s deformation state, various methods are developed and tested to reduce the frame-wise sensitivity data to a single sensitivity vector suitable for optimization. These methods are then tested on common extrusion blow-molded products, achieving improvements in buckling load of up to 60%. This approach is transferable to other thin-walled structures across various engineering domains, offering a pathway toward lightweight yet load-compliant designs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 12488 KB

Open AccessArticle

Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Study of the Melting Dynamics in Long Alkanes

by Dirk Grommes, Olaf Bruch, Wolfgang Imhof and Dirk Reith

Polymers 2025, 17(18), 2500; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17182500 - 16 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1050

Abstract

The melting behavior of alkanes plays a critical role in a wide field of applications. While experimental studies have established the occurrence of premelting phenomena in both short- and long-chain alkanes, molecular-level insights remain limited. In this work, we employ coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the melting behavior of high-molecular-weight alkanes, with a particular focus on continuous premelting dynamics in the transition regime toward polymer-like systems. By simulating alkane chains of varying lengths and analyzing temperature-dependent structural changes, we identify a crossover from discrete phase transitions to a gradual premelting process beyond chain lengths of

N \approx 40

coarse-grained beads. The extrapolation of melting temperatures to zero heating rate yields values that agree well with the experimental data for the longest simulated chains. Compared to previous simulation studies, the slower heating rates used here offer enhanced quantitative agreement. Overall, the results provide new molecular-level insights into the melting of long-chain alkanes and highlight the utility of coarse-grained models in capturing complex phase behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 4910 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Compression Properties of Open-Cell Foams Reinforced with Shear-Thickening Fluids and Shear-Stiffening Polymers

by Jian Li, Yaoguang Zhou, Mohammad Rauf Sheikhi and Selim Gürgen

Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091218 - 29 Apr 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2349

Abstract

Open-cell PU foams have a wide range of industrial applications due to their excellent cushioning, impact protection, packaging, thermal insulation, and sound reduction benefits. The foams absorb impact energy while deforming under compressing and are ideal for applications with severe and repeated loading conditions. Enhancing and improving their compressive durability is a vital area of ongoing research. We investigated the effect of incorporating shear-stiffening polymers (SSPs) and shear-thickening fluids (STFs) on the compression properties of open-cell foams. Rheological properties of STFs and SSPs prepared for incorporation into the foams confirmed the shear-thickening and shear-stiffening characteristics. Quasi-static compression tests performed at different speeds (6, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mm/s), as well as load-unload compression tests (6 and 24 mm/s), showed that the SSP-filled foam exhibited the most pronounced improvement in the elastic, plateau, and densification regions compared to the neat foam. While the STF-filled foam also improved performance over the neat foam, its advantages over the SSP-filled foam were less pronounced. The performance of the SSP-filled foam improved with increasing compression speeds, while the performance of the STF-filled foam remained relatively stable between 60 and 240 mm/s of load-unload tests. Post-test compression evaluations showed that neat and STF-filled foams quickly regained their original shape, while SSP-filled foams required more time before recovery. This research shows that combining SSP and STF smart materials with open-cell foams substantially improves their compressive performance, especially at high compression rates and load-unloading scenarios, increasing their functional life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 5357 KB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Mechanical Responses in Polymer Blends with Unintended Polymer Fractions Using an Efficient Neural Network-Based Constitutive Material Model

by Ninghan Tang, Pei Hao, Juan Miguel Tiscar and Francisco A. Gilabert

Polymers 2025, 17(7), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070963 - 1 Apr 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1371

Abstract

Current mechanical recycling procedures often fall short of achieving 100% purity in recycled thermoplastics, which typically consist of mixed polymer types. These other polymers, though typically present in small amounts, can significantly affect the mechanical properties of the recycled material. Addressing this issue, this study introduces a neural network (NN) approach combined with a physically-based constitutive model to accurately predict the mechanical behavior of polymer blends of varying compositions. The NN-based method relies on the training of a crucial internal variable controlling the nonlinear response. This variable is derived from the physical model, which minimizes the dependence on extensive experimental data. We evaluated this approach on polymer blends of LLDPE/PET, LLDPE/PA6, and LDPE/PS at various weight fraction ratios. The results demonstrate that the NN-based model effectively aligns with experimental outcomes, enhancing our ability to predict how different blend ratios influence the mechanical properties of polymer blends. This capability is crucial for optimizing the use of recycled polymers in various applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2083 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Coupling Correlation of Factors Affecting Mechanical Properties of High-Damping Rubber Plate

by Tianbo Peng, Feng Li and Chiyuan Ma

Polymers 2025, 17(5), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050593 - 23 Feb 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1186

Abstract

Factors affecting the mechanical properties of the high-damping rubber plate mainly include temperature, shear strain rate, shear strain amplitude, and compressive stress. However, the existing studies focused on one factor and have not conducted detailed research on the coupling relationships between various factors. The influence on the mechanical properties of the high-damping rubber plate of one factor will change with the change in other factors. To study the coupling correlation, a series of horizontal cyclic loading tests were designed and carried out. Due to the simultaneous hyperelastic and viscoelastic properties of high-damping rubber, the hysteresis curve of the high-damping rubber plate is decomposed into a hyperelastic part and a damping part. Equations of the two parts are deduced by a theoretical method, and all the coefficients of the two parts are obtained by fitting the test results. Then, the variation coefficient is used to study the influence degree of each factor on these coefficients. Finally, the correlation variation coefficient is defined as the variation coefficient of variation coefficients and is used to quantify the coupling correlation between the factors. This study is of great significance in exploring the coupling correlation between the factors affecting the mechanical properties of the high-damping rubber plate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 4049 KB

Open AccessArticle

Compression Response of Silicone-Based Composites with Integrated Multifunctional Fillers

by Ingyu Bak, Jihyeon Kim, Andrew Jacob Ruba, David John Ross and Kwan-Soo Lee

Polymers 2025, 17(4), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040500 - 14 Feb 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2126

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is known for its exceptional mechanical properties, chemical stability, and flexibility. Recent advancements have focused on developing functional PDMS composites by integrating various functional fillers, including polymers, ceramics, and metals, for advanced applications such as electronics, medical devices, and aerospace. Consequently, there is a growing need to investigate PDMS composites to achieve higher filler loadings offering enhanced mechanical performance. This study addresses this need by utilizing the high molecular weight (MW) PDMS resin we have developed, offering its high elongation capacity of up to >6500%. We incorporated boron (B), hollow glass microballoons (HGMs), and tungsten-coated hollow glass microballoons (WHGMs) into the developed high MW PDMS. The resulting composites demonstrated excellent elastic properties and significant compression resilience (35–80%) and elastic modulus (1.28–10.15 MPa) at high filler loadings (~60 vol.%). Specifically, B/PDMS composites achieved up to 67.6 vol.% of B, HGM/PDMS composites held up to 68.6 vol.% of HGM, and WHGM/PDMS composites incorporated up to 54.0 vol.% of WHGM. These findings highlight the potential of high MW PDMS for developing high-performance PDMS composites suitable for advanced applications such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 3732 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Ultraviolet Aging on Properties of Epoxy Resin and Its Pultruded Fiber-Reinforced Composite

by Shengzong Ci, Baoming Wang, Chengrui Di, Mingyu Wang, Bo Zhu and Kun Qiao

Polymers 2025, 17(3), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030294 - 23 Jan 2025

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5998

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) often undergo aging as a result of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which significantly impacts their performance and durability. This paper investigated the alterations in the microstructure and macroscopic properties of epoxy resin and its composite used in overhead wires during UV aging. Furthermore, the mechanism of UV aging for both resin and composite was revealed. The results showed that UV aging predominantly affected the properties of the surface layer resin. UV aging can induce molecular chain scission, which leads to resin weight change, color deepening, microcrack formation, a decline in mechanical properties, and other performance degradation behaviors under the combined action of many factors. With the increase in aging time, the weight change rate and hardness of the resin increased first and then decreased, while the mechanical properties of the composite decreased rapidly first and gradually tended to be constant. The bending strength and impact strength of the composite decreased by 6.0% and 12.8%, respectively, compared with the initial values. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively understand the UV aging behaviors of epoxy resins and their composites employed in overhead wires, and it also provides essential data for advancing the utilization and durability of epoxy resins and composites across aerospace, marine, and other outdoor applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behaviors and Properties of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)

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