Polymer Physics

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closed (31 December 2025)

Manuscript submission deadline

31 March 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer physics is a dynamic field at the intersection of statistical mechanics, condensed matter physics, and polymer science. This Topic invites contributions that explore the fundamental and applied aspects of polymer behavior, including conformational fluctuations, mechanical properties, and the kinetics of polymerization and degradation.

We welcome research on theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to polymer dynamics, structure–property relationships, and phase behavior. Topics of interest include polymer rheology, self-assembly, network formation, viscoelasticity, and emerging trends such as machine learning applications in polymer physics. Studies addressing the impact of thermal fluctuations, non-equilibrium phenomena, and novel polymeric materials are also encouraged.

By bringing together cutting-edge research, this Topic aims to advance our understanding of polymer systems, fostering discussions on new methodologies and interdisciplinary perspectives. We invite physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers to contribute original research, reviews, and perspective articles.

Join us in shaping the future of polymer physics.

Prof. Dr. Martin Kröger
Dr. Ying Li
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Physchem physchem	1.7	2.1	2021	22.1 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
AppliedPhys appliedphys	-	-	2025	15.0 days *	CHF 1000	Submit
Laboratories laboratories	-	-	2024	15.0 days *	CHF 1000	Submit

* Median value for all MDPI journals in the second half of 2025.

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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All Materials Physchem Polymers AppliedPhys Laboratories

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22 pages, 7178 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Tuning Hydrophilic–Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Films Through Surface Fluorination and Drying

by Zhipeng He, Jae-Ho Kim and Susumu Yonezawa

Physchem 2026, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/physchem6010002 - 8 Jan 2026

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Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) films were directly fluorinated using fluorine gas at room temperature under varying conditions: fluorine concentrations of 190–760 Torr and reaction times of 10–60 min. Some of the fluorinated samples were subsequently dried at 70 °C for 2 d. Fourier-transform infrared [...] Read more.

Polylactic acid (PLA) films were directly fluorinated using fluorine gas at room temperature under varying conditions: fluorine concentrations of 190–760 Torr and reaction times of 10–60 min. Some of the fluorinated samples were subsequently dried at 70 °C for 2 d. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses verified the successful introduction of fluorine and the formation of -CF_x and C=OF groups on the PLA surface after fluorination. The fluorination level initially increased with increasing reaction time or fluorine concentration but then decreased because of the formation and escape of CF₄ gasification. Drying further reduced the surface fluorine content. Both fluorination and drying increased the glass transition temperature of PLA, which was attributed to the increase in surface polarity and crosslinking density of the polymer. Fluorination significantly improved the surface hydrophilicity of PLA, with the water contact angle decreasing from 64.09°to 18.75°. This was due to the formation of a rough, porous surface caused by the introduction of polar fluorine atoms, as observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, drying the fluorinated samples increased the water contact angle to 91.46°, resulting in hydrophobicity owing to increased surface crosslinking. This study demonstrates a simple and effective method for tuning the hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties of PLA surfaces using direct fluorination and thermal treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymer Physics)

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14 pages, 3499 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Facile Preparation of iPP Fibrous Membranes from In Situ Microfibrillar Composites for Oil/Water Separation

by Chengtao Gao, Li Zhang, Xianrong Liu, Chen He, Shanshan Luo and Qin Tian

Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2114; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152114 - 31 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 616

Abstract

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic nanofibrous or microfibrous membranes are regarded as ideal oil/water separation materials owing to their controllable porosity, superior separation efficiency, and ease of operation. However, developing efficient, scalable, and environmentally friendly strategies for fabricating such membranes remains a significant challenge. In [...] Read more.

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic nanofibrous or microfibrous membranes are regarded as ideal oil/water separation materials owing to their controllable porosity, superior separation efficiency, and ease of operation. However, developing efficient, scalable, and environmentally friendly strategies for fabricating such membranes remains a significant challenge. In this study, isotactic polypropylene (iPP) fibrous membranes with morphologies ranging from ellipsoidal stacking to microfiber stacking were successfully fabricated via a multistage stretching extrusion and leaching process using in situ microfibrillar composites (MFCs). The results establish a significant relationship between microfiber morphology and membrane oil adsorption performance. Compared with membranes formed from high-aspect-ratio microfibers, those comprising short microfibers feature larger pores and a more open structure, which enhances their oil adsorption capacity. Among the fabricated membranes, the iPP membrane with an ellipsoidal stacking morphology exhibits optimal performance, achieving a porosity of 65% and demonstrating both hydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, with a silicone oil adsorption capacity of up to 312.5%. Furthermore, this membrane shows excellent reusability and stability over ten adsorption–desorption cycles using chloroform. This study presents a novel approach leveraging in situ microfibrillar composites to prepare high-performance oil/water separation membranes in this study, underscoring their considerable promise for practical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymer Physics)

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