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J. Compos. Sci.
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Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition
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Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 5206

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiangfa Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Interests: polymer matrix composites (PMCs); mulitifunctinal nanofibers; electrospinning; energy conversion and storage; surface and interface engineering; mechanical properties; solid mechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Oksana Zholobko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Interests: smart polymeric systems; high-temperature polymers; multifunctional nanofibers and membranes; electrospinning; material characterization; energy conversion and storage; hydrogel chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) made of synthetic or natural polymeric resins reinforced with high-performance fibers, particles, and platelets have found broad structural and multifunctional applications in aerospace and aeronautical structures, ground vehicles, offshore and civil infrastructures, sports utilities, energy harvesting, conversion and storage devices, biomedical devices, sensors and actuators, etc. due to their unique high specific strength and stiffness, sound anticorrosion capability, low-cost in manufacturing, etc. This special issue is focused on the general topics of the materials, processing, characterization and modeling of structural, smart, and multifunctional PMCs, fibers, fibrous materials, fibers and composites from sustainable resources, etc. The topics to be covered include, but are not limited to

  • Synthesis of novel polymeric resins for high-performance PMCs (e.g., those with high strength, high toughness, high-temperature durability, high dielectric constant, high transparency, etc.).
  • Fabrication and characterization of micro and nanofibers of polymers, carbon, metals, ceramics, or other materials.
  • Emerging technologies in PMC manufacturing (e.g., additive manufacturing, manufacturing automation, 3D braiding, PMC recycling, etc.).
  • PMCs and fibers from biodegradable and/or renewable materials.
  • New concept structural and multifunctional PMCs and fibers.
  • PMCs and fibrous materials for emerging structural and multifunctional applications in biomedical engineering, environmental protection, renewable energy harvesting, conversion, and storage (e.g., supercapacitors, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, etc.), etc.
  • Interface toughening, damage self-sensing and self-healing, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of PMCs, and surface treatment techniques for PMCs and fibers.
  • Static, dynamic, impact, and fatigue responses of fibers and PMCs.
  • Theoretical, analytic, and computational modeling of the mechanical and multifunctional performances of PMCs, fibers, and fibrous materials.

Dr. Xiangfa Wu
Dr. Oksana Zholobko
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Journal of Composites Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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

  • polymer matrix composites (PMCs)
  • self-healing composites
  • biodegradable composites
  • natural fiber-reinforced composites
  • multifunctional composites
  • smart and intelligent composites
  • fibrous materials
  • micro/nanofibers
  • interface toughening
  • surface treatment of fibers
  • mechanical properties
  • composite Processing
  • fracture Mechanics
  • modeling

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 11409 KiB  
Article
Mesoscopic Simulation on Centrifugal Melt Electrospinning of Polyetherimide and Polyarylethernitrile
by Han Guo, Yuzhe Huang, Jia Chen, Hongyu Huo, Gongqiu Peng, Baoyan Zhang and Yong Liu
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110480 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 340
Abstract
Polyetherimide (PEI) and polyarylethernitrile (PEN) are high–performance materials for various applications. By optimizing their fiber morphology, their performance can be further enhanced, leading to an expanded range of applications in carbon fiber composites. However, developing processes for stable and efficient fiber production remains [...] Read more.
Polyetherimide (PEI) and polyarylethernitrile (PEN) are high–performance materials for various applications. By optimizing their fiber morphology, their performance can be further enhanced, leading to an expanded range of applications in carbon fiber composites. However, developing processes for stable and efficient fiber production remains challenging. This research aims to simulate the preparation of high–performance ultrafine PEI or PEN fibers using electrospinning. A mesoscopic simulation model for centrifugal melt electrospinning was constructed to compare and analyze the changes in molecular chain orientation, unfolding, fiber diameter, and fiber yield under high-voltage electrostatic fields. The simulation results showed that temperature and electric field force had a particular impact on the diameter and yield of PEI and PEN fibers. Changes in rotational speed had negligible effects on both PEI and PEN fibers. Additionally, due to their different molecular structures, PEI and PEN, which have different chain lengths, exhibit varied spinning trends. This study established a mesoscopic dynamic foundation for producing high-performance ultrafine fibers and provided theoretical guidance for future electrospinning experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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17 pages, 26255 KiB  
Article
The Influence of the Amount of Technological Waste on the Performance Properties of Fibrous Polymer Composites
by Jozef Dobránsky, Miroslav Gombár and Patrik Fejko
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110470 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 383
Abstract
The objective of the experimental analysis was to assess the impact of the reuse of technological waste (recyclate) on the selected performance properties of the fibrous polymer composite used to produce components for the automotive industry by injection molding technology. Polyphthalamide (PPA), which [...] Read more.
The objective of the experimental analysis was to assess the impact of the reuse of technological waste (recyclate) on the selected performance properties of the fibrous polymer composite used to produce components for the automotive industry by injection molding technology. Polyphthalamide (PPA), which belongs to a group of high-tech polymers, was chosen as the analyzed material. In accordance with the set goals, the rheological, mechanical, and structural properties of the material were evaluated using ANOVA analysis in the experimental part of the work, depending on the mass ratio of the recycled material added to the virgin material. The influence of the proportion of recycled material on the lifetime of moldings by the method of their exposure at an elevated temperature for a defined time was also assessed. During the research, it was found that at a concentration of up to 40 wt. % of recyclate, its mechanical properties do not change significantly. At a concentration of 50 wt. %, there is a rapid decrease in mechanical properties. In the long term, it can also be said that the addition of recyclate significantly affects the service life of the components. No significant changes in morphology were observed during the analysis of structural properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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23 pages, 10593 KiB  
Article
Mechanical, Durability, and Microstructure Characterization of Pervious Concrete Incorporating Polypropylene Fibers and Fly Ash/Silica Fume
by Hassan Bilal, Xiaojian Gao, Liborio Cavaleri, Alamgir Khan and Miao Ren
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110456 - 3 Nov 2024
Viewed by 849
Abstract
Pervious concrete, because of its high porosity, is a suitable material for reducing the effects of water precipitations and is primarily utilized in road pavements. In this study, the effects of binder-to-aggregate (B/A) ratios, as well as mineral admixtures with and without polypropylene [...] Read more.
Pervious concrete, because of its high porosity, is a suitable material for reducing the effects of water precipitations and is primarily utilized in road pavements. In this study, the effects of binder-to-aggregate (B/A) ratios, as well as mineral admixtures with and without polypropylene fibers (PPFs) (0.2% by volume), including fly ash (FA) or silica fume (SF) (10% by substitution of cement), on the mechanical properties and durability of pervious concrete were experimentally observed. The experimental campaign included the following tests: permeability, porosity, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength tests. The durability performance was evaluated by observing freeze–thaw cycles and abrasion resistance after 28 d curing. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to investigate the phase composition and microstructure. The results revealed that, for an assigned B/A ratio identified as optimal, the incorporation of mineral admixtures and fibers mutually compensated for their respective negative effects, resulting in the effective enhancement of both mechanical/microstructural characteristics and durability properties. In general, pervious concrete developed with fly ash or silica fume achieved higher compressive strength (>35 MPA) and permeability of 4 mm/s, whereas the binary combination of fly ash or silica fume with 0.2% PPFs yielded a flexural strength greater than 6 MPA and a permeability of 6 mm/s. Silica fume-based pervious concrete exhibited excellent performance in terms of freeze–thaw (F-T) cycling and abrasion resistance, followed by fiber-reinforced pervious concrete, except fly ash-based pervious concrete. Microstructural analysis showed that the inclusion of fly ash or silica fume reduced the harmful capillary pores and refined the pore enlargement caused by PPFs in the cement interface matrix through micro-filling and a pozzolanic reaction, leading to improved mechanical and durability characteristics of pervious concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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32 pages, 14430 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties of Natural Jute Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Various Lengths and Volume Fractions
by Abdulrhman Dhaif Allah Abdo Mohammed, Wang Ronghui and Ghasan Fahim Huseien
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110450 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 617
Abstract
Enhancing the fracture strength and ductility of concrete through the incorporation of various types of synthetic and natural fibers with varying textures and contents remains challenging. Natural fibers, being versatile and eco-friendly construction materials, can be an excellent alternative to synthetic fibers. However, [...] Read more.
Enhancing the fracture strength and ductility of concrete through the incorporation of various types of synthetic and natural fibers with varying textures and contents remains challenging. Natural fibers, being versatile and eco-friendly construction materials, can be an excellent alternative to synthetic fibers. However, studies on natural fiber-reinforced (especially through the incorporation of jute fibers) novel composites like geopolymer binders remain deficient. Thus, the effects of various lengths (15, 25 and 35 mm) and volume contents (0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, and 0.70%) of natural jute fibers on the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete were studied. The results revealed that jute fiber reinforcement remarkably affected the workability, compressive strength, fracture strengths, water absorption and microstructure properties of the proposed geopolymer concretes. Increasing the fiber length and volume fractions in the geopolymer matrix lowered the slump values and workability and increased the compressive strength. The specimen prepared with a fiber length of 35 mm and volume fractions of 0.70% displayed the lowest slump value (28 mm) and highest compressive strength (31.5 MPa) at 28 days. In addition, the specimens made with fiber volume fractions of 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40% showed a significant improvement in the splitting tensile and flexural strengths. However, increasing the volume of the jute fibers up to 0.50% led to a slight drop in the fracture strength of the geopolymers. The specimens prepared with a length of 25 mm and a volume of 0.40% achieved the highest enhancement of splitting tensile strength (18.7%) and flexural strength (29.1%) at 28 days. In short, sustainable geopolymer concrete with high fracture performance can be obtained by incorporating natural jute fibers, leading to practical applications in the construction sector. The proposed green concrete may enable a reduction in solid waste, thus promoting a more sustainable concrete industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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19 pages, 51632 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Printing Limitations of Polymers Reinforced with Continuous Stainless Steel Fibres and Curvature Stiffness
by Alison J. Clarke, Andrew N. Dickson, Vladimir Milosavljević and Denis P. Dowling
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(10), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8100410 - 6 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1005
Abstract
This study investigates the printability limitations of 3D-printed continuous 316L stainless steel fibre-reinforced polymer composites obtained using the Materials Extrusion (MEX) technique. The objective was to better understand the geometric printing limitations of composites fabricated using continuous steel fibres, based on a combination [...] Read more.
This study investigates the printability limitations of 3D-printed continuous 316L stainless steel fibre-reinforced polymer composites obtained using the Materials Extrusion (MEX) technique. The objective was to better understand the geometric printing limitations of composites fabricated using continuous steel fibres, based on a combination of bending stiffness testing and piezoresistive property studies. The 0.5 mm composite filaments used in this study were obtained by co-extruding polylactic acid (PLA), with a 316 L stainless steel fibre (SSF) bundle. The composite printability limitations were evaluated by the printing of a series of ’teardrop’ shaped geometries with angles in the range from 5° to 90° and radii between 2 and 20 mm. The morphology and dimensional measurements of the resulting PLA-SSF prints were evaluated using μCT scanning, optical microscopy, and calliper measurements. Sample sets were compared and statistically examined to evaluate the repeatability, turning ability, and geometrical print limitations, along with dimensional fluctuations between designed and as-printed structures. Comparisons of the curvature bending stiffness were made with the PLA-only polymer and with 3D-printed nylon-reinforced short and long carbon fibre composites. It was demonstrated that the stainless steel composites exhibited an increase in bending stiffness at smaller radii. The change in piezoresistance response of the PLA-SSF with load applied during the curvature bending stiffness testing demonstrated that the 3D-printed composites may have the potential for use as structural health monitoring sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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20 pages, 7405 KiB  
Article
Stress Analysis of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Lap Joints with Modified Adhesives at Various Temperatures
by Hasan Caglar, Sridhar Idapalapati, Mohit Sharma and Chian Kerm Sin
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(10), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8100406 - 4 Oct 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
This study examines stress distributions in adhesive joints under various loading and temperature conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to compute the peel and shear stresses at the adhesive interface and bondline mid-section. Dependency analysis shows that mid-section peel stress significantly impacts [...] Read more.
This study examines stress distributions in adhesive joints under various loading and temperature conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to compute the peel and shear stresses at the adhesive interface and bondline mid-section. Dependency analysis shows that mid-section peel stress significantly impacts the experimental shear strength of SLJs more than shear stress. This insight highlights the need to carefully analyze peel stress and bending moment factors. The analytical solutions proposed by Goland and Reissner were analyzed with modifications by Hart-Smith and Zhao. Hart-Smith’s approach performed more effectively, especially when the adhesive layer thickness (ta) was 0.5 mm and the overlap length to thickness ratio (c/ta) was ≥20. FEA revealed stress distributions at the adhesive/adherend interface and bondline mid-section. DP490 adhesive joints exhibited lower stresses than EA9696. Temperature variations significantly affected joint behavior, particularly above the adhesive’s glass transition temperature (Tg). Both EA9696 and DP490 adhesive joints displayed distinct responses to stress and temperature changes. The parabolic and biquadratic solutions for functionally graded adhesive (FGA) joints were compared. The biquadratic solution consistently yielded higher shear and peel stress values, with an increase ranging from 15% to 71% compared to the parabolic solution at various temperatures because of the larger gradient of the Young’s modulus distribution near the overlap ends. The ratio of peak peel stress to peak shear stress suggests that selecting an adhesive with a superior peel strength or primarily reducing the peak peel stress by functionally grading is advisable, particularly if the adhesive is brittle. The comparison of stress distributions emphasizes the importance of selecting adhesives based on stress type, temperature, and solution methods in optimizing adhesive bonding applications. These findings provide valuable insights for thermomechanical applications where thermal stimuli may be used for controlled debonding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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14 pages, 4235 KiB  
Article
Recycled Low Density Polyethylene Reinforced with Deverra tortuosa Vegetable Fibers
by Tahani Zorgui, Hibal Ahmad, Mehrez Romdhane and Denis Rodrigue
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(10), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8100394 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 976
Abstract
In this work, natural fibers extracted from the medicinal aromatic plant Deverra tortuosa, with different sizes (S1 = 2 mm and S2 = 500 μm), were incorporated into recycled low density polyethylene (rLDPE) to produce sustainable biocomposites. Compounding was performed with different [...] Read more.
In this work, natural fibers extracted from the medicinal aromatic plant Deverra tortuosa, with different sizes (S1 = 2 mm and S2 = 500 μm), were incorporated into recycled low density polyethylene (rLDPE) to produce sustainable biocomposites. Compounding was performed with different fiber concentrations (0 to 30% wt.) via twin-screw extrusion followed by injection molding. Based on the samples obtained, a comprehensive series of characterization was conducted, encompassing morphological and mechanical (flexural, tensile, hardness, and impact) properties. Additionally, thermal properties were assessed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to elucidate potential chemical interactions and changes with processing. Across the range of conditions investigated, substantial improvements were observed in the rLDPE properties, in particular for the tensile modulus (23% for S1 and 104% for S2), flexural modulus (47% for S1 and 61% for S2), and flexural strength (31% for S1 and 65% for S2). Nevertheless, the tensile strength decreased (15% for S1 and 46% for S2) due to poor fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion. These preliminary results can be used for further development in sustainable packaging materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites and Fibers, 3rd Edition)
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