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Recent Advances in Functional Composite Materials
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Recent Advances in Functional Composite Materials

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 2937

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Boon Peng Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
Interests: polymer nanocomposites; polymer foams; waste valorization; polymer processing; reactive extrusion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional composite materials are garnering increasing interest in advanced applications today due to their ability to impart unique properties not found in original materials. These composites can significantly enhance the performance of base materials by combining their best attributes.

Functionality in polymer materials can be achieved through various unique processing methods, post-processing treatments, or the incorporation of micro/nanoparticles. For instance, incorporating conductive fillers into polymers can significantly enhance their electrical conductivity, making them suitable for electronics and energy storage applications. Incorporating flame-retardant additives can improve the fire resistance of host polymers, expanding their use in safety-critical applications. Antimicrobial additives are extensively researched to develop functional composite materials for active food packaging. Furthermore, smart, functional composites that respond to external stimuli like temperature, pressure, or electromagnetic fields are increasingly explored for use in sensors, actuators, and adaptive structures.

These developments are driving progress in diverse fields, including aerospace, automotive industries, electronics, and healthcare, promising more efficient, durable, and versatile material solutions. The enhanced functionalities of these composite materials, driving innovation across various industries, make them a focal point of modern materials science research. This Special Issue focuses on innovative fabrication techniques for advanced functional composite materials aimed at achieving specific desired properties.

Dr. Boon Peng Chang
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 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. Molecules 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

  • functional composites
  • material innovation
  • enhanced properties
  • nanotechnology
  • smart materials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3936 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Far Infrared Emission and UV Protection Properties of Polypropylene Composites Embedded with Candlenut-Derived Biochar for Health Textiles
by Rayland Jun Yan Low, Pengfei He, Junianto, Ningyu Qiu, Amanda Jiamin Ong, Hong Han Choo, Yosia Gopas Oetama Manik, Rikson Siburian, Ronn Goei, Stephen F. Burns, Alfred Iing Yoong Tok, Vitali Lipik and Boon Peng Chang
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4798; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204798 - 10 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1035
Abstract
Far infrared radiation (FIR) within the wavelength range of 4–14 μm can offer human health benefits, such as improving blood flow. Therefore, additives that emit far infrared radiation have the potential to be incorporated into polymer/fabric matrices to develop textiles that could promote [...] Read more.
Far infrared radiation (FIR) within the wavelength range of 4–14 μm can offer human health benefits, such as improving blood flow. Therefore, additives that emit far infrared radiation have the potential to be incorporated into polymer/fabric matrices to develop textiles that could promote health. In this study, biochar derived from candlenuts and pyrolyzed with activated carbon (AC) was incorporated into polypropylene (PP) films and investigated for its potential as a health-promoting textile additive. The properties of biochar were compared with other far infrared (FIR) emitting additives such as hematite, Indian red ochre, and graphene. The addition of biochar increased FIR emissivity to 0.90, which is 9% higher than that of pristine PP. Additionally, biochar enhanced UV and near-infrared (NIR) blocking capabilities, achieving an ultra-protection factor (UPF) of 91.41 and NIR shielding of 95.85%. Incorporating 2 wt% biochar resulted in a 3.3-fold higher temperature increase compared to pristine PP after 30 s of exposure to an FIR source, demonstrating improved heat retention. Furthermore, the ability to achieve the lowest thermal effusivity among other additives supports the potential use of biochar-incorporated fabric as a warming material in cold climates. The tensile properties of PP films with biochar were superior to those with other additives, potentially contributing to a longer product lifespan. Additionally, samples with red ochre exhibited the highest FIR emissivity, while samples with hematite showed the highest capacity for UV shielding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Composite Materials)
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14 pages, 4480 KiB  
Article
Nacre-like Anisotropic Multifunctional Aramid Nanofiber Composites for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, Thermal Management, and Strain Sensing
by Jin Dong, Jing Lin, Hebai Zhang, Jun Wang, Ye Li, Kelin Pan, Haichen Zhang and Dechao Hu
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4000; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174000 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 795
Abstract
Developing multifunctional flexible composites with high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management, and sensing capacity is urgently required but challenging for next-generation smart electronic devices. Herein, novel nacre-like aramid nanofibers (ANFs)-based composite films with an anisotropic layered microstructure were prepared via vacuum-assisted filtration [...] Read more.
Developing multifunctional flexible composites with high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management, and sensing capacity is urgently required but challenging for next-generation smart electronic devices. Herein, novel nacre-like aramid nanofibers (ANFs)-based composite films with an anisotropic layered microstructure were prepared via vacuum-assisted filtration and hot-pressing. The formed 3D conductive skeleton enabled fast electron and phonon transport pathways in the composite films. As a result, the composite films showed a high electrical conductivity of 71.53 S/cm and an outstanding thermal conductivity of 6.4 W/m·K when the mass ratio of ANFs to MXene/AgNWs was 10:8. The excellent electrical properties and multi-layered structure endowed the composite films with superior EMI shielding performance and remarkable Joule heating performance, with a surface temperature of 78.3 °C at a voltage of 2.5 V. Additionally, it was found that the composite films also exhibited excellent mechanical properties and outstanding flame resistance. Moreover, the composite films could be further designed as strain sensors, which show great promise in monitoring real-time signals for human motion. These satisfactory results may open up a new opportunity for EMI shielding, thermal management, and sensing applications in wearable electronic devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Composite Materials)
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12 pages, 3338 KiB  
Article
Characterization of WO3/Silicone Rubber Composites for Hydrogen-Sensitive Gasochromic Application
by Lin Wang, Ke Yang, Ping Yu, Huan Liu, Qingli Cheng, Anfeng Yu, Xinmei Liu and Zhe Yang
Molecules 2024, 29(15), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153499 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 736
Abstract
WO3 and silicone rubber (SR)-based gasochromic composites were fabricated to detect hydrogen leaks at room temperature. WO3 rod-like nanostructures were uniformly distributed in the SR matrix, with a particle size of 60–100 nm. The hydrogen permeability of these composites reached 1.77 [...] Read more.
WO3 and silicone rubber (SR)-based gasochromic composites were fabricated to detect hydrogen leaks at room temperature. WO3 rod-like nanostructures were uniformly distributed in the SR matrix, with a particle size of 60–100 nm. The hydrogen permeability of these composites reached 1.77 cm3·cm/cm2·s·cmHg. At a 10% hydrogen concentration, the visible light reflectance of the composite decreased 49% during about 40 s, with a color change rate of 6.4% s−1. Moreover, the composite detected hydrogen concentrations as low as 0.1%. And a color scale was obtained for easily assessing hydrogen concentrations in the environment based on the color of composites. Finally, the composite materials as disposable sensors underwent testing at several Sinopec hydrogen refueling stations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Functional Composite Materials)
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