Tribology of Polymeric Composites
A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 30
Special Issue Editors
Interests: tribology; scanning probe microscopy; nanocomposites; surface science; nanomanufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymer composites are ubiquitous solid lubricants and extensively employed in harsh environments or those which otherwise preclude the use of conventional lubricants. The tribological performance of polymer composites depends upon a myriad of parameters, including the matrix–filler chemistry, filler size, shape, loading, dispersion, and properties of the ensuing filler–matrix interphase. Additionally, the friction and wear performance of several polymer composites exhibit acute sensitivity to environmental and thermal changes at the sliding interface. Despite the variations in their structure, properties and performance, nearly all polymer composites function by generating interfacial films that are chemically and mechanically modified, with the extent of this modification often determining the performance of the system. Although much is known about the structure–property relationships present in polymer systems, some of the mechanisms that determine their tribological performance remain unknown. Furthermore, polymer composites offer a viable choice of tribological material for novel applications in which their performance is either unknown or poorly understood.
This Special Issue highlights advances in the development and characterization of polymer composites, as well as advances in our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that determine their performance. We welcome the submission of high-quality papers that present scientific research with an applied focus, or manuscripts that advance our basic scientific understanding of polymer composites across length scales. We anticipate this research to comprise experimental, theoretical and/or computational work, or a combination thereof; this will enable the predictive design of polymer composites for future technologies.
Dr. Harman Khare
Dr. Mark Sidebottom
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. Lubricants 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 2600 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
- polymers
- solid lubricants
- macromolecules
- composites
- tribology
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