Lifetime Prediction of Polymeric Materials

Dear Colleagues,

The interest in the lifetime prediction of materials grows years by years, testified by an exponential growth of scientific works concerning this topic. This increasing trend is definitely due to the importance of some materials in our everyday life, and it is driven both by the need to investigate the durability of materials employed in structural applications, which can be fatal in the successful completion of the application for which the material was designed, and by the environmental concerns related to the disposal of these materials after their shelf life. The aspects related to the disposal of plastic materials are acquiring more and more importance, especially those related to food packaging. The polymer-packaging industry, and arguably the research on materials in general, is historically driven by the need to extend and implement the main materials’ function of protection and preservation, all aspects contributing to a long life and persistence in the environment after their use. The public’s anxiety about the problems derived from environmental issues increasingly pushes the industry and academia towards the design and development of materials that are cleanly disposed of or recycled after their use. Thus, in this sector, the study of material thermal properties is a crucial aspect to improve recyclability or provide a viable alternative; in particular, lifetime prediction plays a key role in facilitating both the design phase and the final disposition.

Prof. Dr. Ignazio Blanco
Guest Editor

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