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Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 15573

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Dr. Ivan B. Meshkov

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Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Interests: silsesquioxanes; MQ resins; molecular silacasoles; nanogels; siloxane dendrimers; metallosiloxanes; molecular composites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites (PCMs) are two- or multi-component materials based on a macromolecular compound (plastic), which is reinforced with various fillers. The matrix acts as a link, while the additives provide the necessary physical parameters. In terms of their properties, polymer composite materials are not inferior to traditional analogues, and often surpass them. However, they are much lighter. This provides PCMs with a wide variety of applications: from decorative crafts to the aviation and space industries.

By changing the composition and the percentage of substances, it is possible to obtain a huge number of new derivative materials with different characteristics of strength, rigidity, thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and chemical and temperature resistance.

This Special Issue aims to collect original and cutting-edge research on recent advances in the field of polymer composites regarding their composition, manufacturing, processing and application in many fields of the modern world.

Dr. Ivan B. Meshkov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

polymeric composites
molecular fillers
montmorillonite
silica
biocomposites
microparticles
nanoparticles
polymer matrix

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 7727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites Fabricated with Copper Nanoparticles and Photopolymer Resin via Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

by Leon D. Gil, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Henry A. Colorado

Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2434; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172434 - 28 Aug 2024

Viewed by 776

Abstract

This investigation explores the fabrication of polymer matrix nanocomposites via additive manufacturing (AM), using a UV photopolymerization resin and copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) with vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology. The aim in this study is to investigate the mentioned materials in different formulations in terms of inexpensive processing, the property related variability, and targeting multifunctional applications. After the AM process, samples were post-cured with UV light in order to obtain better mechanical properties. The particles and resin were mixed using an ultrasonicator, and the particle contents used were 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 wt %. The process used in this investigation was simple and inexpensive, as the technologies used are quite accessible, from the 3D printer to the UV curing device. These formulations were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the materials’ microstructure and tensile tests to quantify stress–strain derived properties. Results showed that, besides the simplicity of the process, the mixing was effective, which was observed in the scanning electron microscope. Additionally, the tensile strength was increased with the UV irradiation exposure, while the strain properties did not change significantly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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15 pages, 13986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Polydopamine Functionalized HNIW Crystals and Application in Solid Propellants

by Fengdan Zhu, Chang Liu, Desheng Yang and Guoping Li

Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111566 - 1 Jun 2024

Viewed by 789

Abstract

The application of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW) as an oxidizer in solid propellants aligns with the pursuit of high-energy materials. However, the phase transformation behavior and high impact sensitivity of HNIW are its limitations. Due to the strong adhesion and mild synthesis conditions, polydopamine (PDA) has been employed to modify HNIW. However, the method suffers from a slow coating process and a non-ideal coating effect under short reaction time. Herein, oxygen-accelerated dopamine in situ polymerization coating method was developed. It was found that oxygen not only reduced the coating time but also contributed to forming a dense and uniform PDA layer. HNIW@PDA coated in oxygen for 6 h exhibited the most favorable performance, with a delay of 20.8 °C in the phase transition temperature and a reduction of 145.45% in the impact sensitivity. The -OH groups on the surface of PDA enhanced the interaction between HNIW and polymer binders, resulting in a 20.36% reduction in the dewetting percentage. The lower content of PDA in HNIW@PDA (1.17%) resulted in minimal variation in the heat of explosion for HNIW@PDA-based HTPB propellant (6287 kJ/kg) in comparison to HNIW-based HTPB propellant (6297 kJ/kg). Hence, HNIW@PDA-based propellants are expected to offer an alternative with promising safety and mechanical performance compared to existing HNIW-based propellants, thus facilitating the application of HNIW in high-energy propellants. This work presents a low-cost method for efficiently inhibiting the phase transformation of polycrystalline explosives and reducing the impact sensitivity. It also offers a potential approach to enhance the interfacial interaction between nitro-containing explosives and polymer binders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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19 pages, 6494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Investigation of Nano-Sized Silica and Micrometer-Sized Calcium Carbonate on Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites

by Nabil Hayeemasae, Siriwat Soontaranon and Abdulhakim Masa

Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081051 - 11 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1014

Abstract

Fillers have been widely used in natural rubber (NR) products. They are introduced to serve as a strategy for modifying the final properties of NR vulcanizates. Silica and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) are among the fillers of choice when the color of the products is concerned. In this case, a special focus was to compare the vulcanizing efficiency of NR filled with two different filler types, namely nano-sized silica and micrometer-sized CaCO₃. This study focused on the effects of the loading level (10–50 parts per hundred parts of rubber, phr) on the final properties and structural changes of NR composites. The results indicated that increased filler loading led to higher curing torques and stiffness of the rubber composites irrespective of the type of filler used. The better filler dispersion was achieved in composites filled with CaCO₃ which is responsible for less polarity of CaCO₃ compared to silica. Good filler distribution enhanced filler–matrix interactions, improving swelling resistance and total crosslink density, and delaying stress relaxation. The modulus and tensile strength of both composites also improved over the content of fillers. The CaCO₃-filled composites reached their maximum tensile strength at 40 phr, exceeding, by roughly 88%, the strength of an unfilled sample. Conversely, the maximum tensile strength of silica-filled NR was at 20 phr and was only slightly higher than that of its unfilled counterpart. This discrepancy was ascribed to the stronger rubber–filler interactions in cases with CaCO₃ filler. Effective rubber–filler interactions improved strain-induced crystallization, increasing crystallinity during stretching and reducing the strain at which crystallization begins. In contrast, large silica aggregates with poor dispersion reduced the overall crosslink density, and degraded the thermomechanical properties, tensile properties, and strain-induced crystallization ability of the NR. The results clearly indicate that CaCO₃ should be favored over silica as a filler in the production of some rubber products where high performance was not the main characteristic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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15 pages, 4588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modification of Polyethylene Glycol-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate Polymeric Micelles Loaded with Curcumin for Cellular Internalization and Cytotoxicity to Wilms Tumor 1-Expressing Myeloblastic Leukemia K562 Cells

by Siriporn Okonogi, Chuda Chittasupho, Tanongsak Sassa-deepaeng, Nattakanwadee Khumpirapang and Songyot Anuchpreeda

Polymers 2024, 16(7), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070917 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1253

Abstract

Curcumin loaded in micelles of block copolymers of ω-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide modified with aliphatic dilactate (CD) or aromatic benzoyl group (CN) were previously reported to inhibit human ovarian carcinoma (OVCAR-3), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), and human lymphoblastic leukemia (Molt-4) cells. Myeloblastic leukemia cells (K562) are prone to drug resistance and differ in both cancer genotype and phenotype from the three mentioned cancer cells. In the present study, CD and CN micelles were prepared and their effects on K562 and normal cells were explored. The obtained CD and CN showed a narrow size distribution with diameters of 63 ± 3 and 50 ± 1 nm, respectively. The curcumin entrapment efficiency of CD and CN was similarly high, above 80% (84 ± 8% and 91 ± 3%). Both CD and CN showed suppression on WT1-expressing K562 and high cell-cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. However, CD showed significantly higher cytotoxicity to K562, with faster cellular uptake and internalization than CN. In addition, CD showed better compatibility with normal red blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells than CN. The promising CD will be further investigated in rodents and possibly in clinical studies for leukemia treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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13 pages, 564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Testing of Selective-Laser-Sintered Polyamide PA2200 Details: Analysis of Tensile Properties via Finite Element Method and Machine Learning Approaches

by Ivan Malashin, Dmitriy Martysyuk, Vadim Tynchenko, Vladimir Nelyub, Aleksei Borodulin and Andrey Galinovsky

Polymers 2024, 16(6), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16060737 - 8 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

This study delves into the mechanical characteristics of polyamide PA2200 components crafted using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. Our primary objective is to analyze the tensile behavior of the components printed at various orientations, showing its response to diverse loading conditions. Finite element method (FEM) modeling was employed to analyze the tensile behavior of these details. The time determined for breaking the detail is 9 s. In addition we forecast key properties, such as tensile behavior and strength, using machine learning (ML) techniques, and the best models are for predicting relative elongation are KNeighborsRegressor and SVR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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21 pages, 6998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mouldable Conductive Plastic with Optimised Mechanical Properties

by Arfat Anis, Abdullah Alhamidi, Zahir Bashir, Mohammad Asif Alam and Saeed M. Al-Zahrani

Polymers 2024, 16(3), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030311 - 23 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1328

Abstract

This paper investigates making an injection mouldable conductive plastic formulation that aims for conductivity into the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding range, with good mechanical properties (i.e., stiffness, strength, and impact resistance). While conductivity in the range (electrostatic charge dissipation) and EMI shielding have been attained by incorporating conductive fillers such as carbon black, metals powders, and new materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), this often occurs with a drop in tensile strength, elongation-to-break resistance, and impact resistance. It is most often the case that the incorporation of high modulus fillers leads to an increase in modulus but a drop in strength and impact resistance. In this work, we have used short carbon fibres as the conductive filler and selected a 50/50 PBT/rPET (recycled PET) for the plastic matrix. Carbon fibres are cheaper than CNTs and graphenes. The PBT/rPET has low melt viscosity and crystallises sufficiently fast during injection moulding. To improve impact resistance, a styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) rubber toughening agent was added to the plastic. The PBT/rPET had very low-impact resistance and the SEBS provided rubber toughening to it; however, the rubber caused a drop in the tensile modulus and strength. The short carbon fibre restored the modulus and strength, which reached higher value than the PBT/rPET while providing the conductivity. Scanning electron microscope pictures showed quite good bonding of the current filler (CF) to the PBT/rPET. An injection mouldable conductive plastic with high conductivity and raised modulus, strength, and impact resistance could be made. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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17 pages, 2731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Vinyl-Containing Polydimethylsiloxane in An Active Medium

by Alina G. Khmelnitskaia, Aleksandra A. Kalinina, Ivan B. Meshkov, Rinat S. Tukhvatshin, Georgii V. Cherkaev, Sergey A. Ponomarenko and Aziz M. Muzafarov

Polymers 2024, 16(2), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16020257 - 16 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1837

Abstract

This research deals with the synthesis of copoly(methylvinyl)(dimethyl)siloxanes by the copolycondensation of dimethyldiethoxy- and methylvinyldimethoxysilane in an active medium, followed by thermal condensation in a vacuum. We achieved a range of copolymers exhibiting finely tuned molecular weights spanning between 1500 and 20,000 with regulated functional methylvinylsiloxane units. Analysis of the microstructure showed that the copolymerization predominantly formed products demonstrating a random distribution of units (R~1). However, an increase in the content of vinyl-containing monomers increases the R parameter, indicating an enhanced tendency towards alternating linkages within the copolymer matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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12 pages, 2321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Mechanical Properties of PVA Hydrogel by Low-Temperature Segment Self-Assembly vs. Freeze–Thaw Cycles

by Fei Wu, Jianfeng Gao, Yang Xiang and Jianming Yang

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3782; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183782 - 15 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3242

Abstract

The rapid and effective fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels with good mechanical properties is of great significance yet remains a huge challenge. The preparation of PVA hydrogels via the conventional cyclic freeze–thaw method is intricate and time-intensive. In this study, a pioneering approach involving the utilization of low-temperature continuous freezing is introduced to produce a novel PVA-ethylene glycol (EG) gel. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm that with the assistance of EG, PVA molecular chains can self-assemble to generate an abundance of microcrystalline domains at low temperatures, thus improving the mechanical properties of PVA-EG gel. Remarkably, when the mass ratio of H₂O/EG is 4:6, the gel’s maximum tensile strength can reach 2.5 MPa, which is much higher than that of PVA gels prepared via the freeze–thaw method. The preparation process of PVA-EG gel is simple, and its properties are excellent, which will promote the wide application of PVA tough gel in many fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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17 pages, 41014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Antioxidant Activity and Reduced Cytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized by Different Humic Materials

by Maria V. Zykova, Alexander B. Volikov, Evgeny E. Buyko, Kristina A. Bratishko, Vladimir V. Ivanov, Andrey I. Konstantinov, Lyudmila A. Logvinova, Dmitrii A. Mihalyov, Nikita A. Sobolev, Anastasia M. Zhirkova, Sergey V. Maksimov, Irina V. Perminova and Mikhail V. Belousov

Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3386; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163386 - 12 Aug 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1611

Abstract

The current article describes the biological activity of new biomaterials combining the “green” properties of humic substances (HSs) and silver nanoparticles. The aim is to investigate the antioxidant activity (AOA) of HS matrices (macroligands) and AgNPs stabilized with humic macroligands (HS-AgNPs). The unique chemical feature of HSs makes them very promising ligands (matrices) for AgNP stabilization. HSs have previously been shown to exert many pharmacological effects mediated by their AOA. AgNPs stabilized with HS showed a pronounced ability to bind to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the test with ABTS. Also, higher AOA was observed for HS-AgNPs as compared to the HS matrices. In vitro cytotoxicity studies have shown that the stabilization of AgNPs with the HS matrices reduces the cytotoxicity of AgNPs. As a result of in vitro experiments with the use of 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), it was found that all HS materials tested and the HS-AgNPs did not exhibit prooxidant effects. Moreover, more pronounced AOA was shown for HS-AgNP samples as compared to the original HS matrices. Two putative mechanisms of the pronounced AOA of the tested compositions are proposed: firstly, the pronounced ability of HSs to inactivate ROS and, secondly, the large surface area and surface-to-volume ratio of HS-AgNPs, which facilitate electron transfer and mitigate kinetic barriers to the reduction reaction. As a result, the antioxidant properties of the tested HS-AgNPs might be of particular interest for biomedical applications aimed at inhibiting the growth of bacteria and viruses and the healing of purulent wounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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26 pages, 22547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thioether-Containing Zirconium(Alkoxy)Siloxanes: Synthesis and Study of Dielectric and Mechanical Properties of Silica-Filled Polydimethylsiloxane Compositions Cured by Them

by Alexander N. Tarasenkov, Maria S. Parshina, Galina P. Goncharuk, Kirill M. Borisov, Evgeniy K. Golubev, Ivan B. Meshkov, Georgiy V. Cherkaev, Vitaliy G. Shevchenko, Sergey A. Ponomarenko and Aziz M. Muzafarov

Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3361; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163361 - 10 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1267

Abstract

A number of thioether-containing zirconium siloxanes, differing in their composition and metal atom shielding degree with a siloxy substituent, were synthesized and characterized. Synthesis of such compounds made it possible to evaluate the effect of sulfur atoms’ presence in the cured compositions on their dielectric properties, as well as to evaluate their curing ability and influence on mechanical characteristics compared to the sulfur-free analogs obtained earlier. Studying a wide range of compositions differing in their content and ratio of metallosiloxane and silica components revealed that such systems are still typical dielectrics. At the same time, the introduction of thioether groups can provide increased dielectric constant and conductivity in comparison with previously obtained sulfur-free similar compositions in the <10² Hz frequency range (dielectric constant up to ~10–30 at frequency range 1–10 Hz). As before, the dielectric parameters increase is directly determined by the silica component proportion in the cured material. It is also shown that varying sulfur-containing zirconium siloxanes structure and functionality and its combination with previously obtained sulfur–free analogs, along with varying the functionality and rubber chain length, can be an effective tool for changing the dielectric and mechanical material parameters in a wide range (tensile strength 0.5–7 Mpa, elastic deformation 2–300%), which determine the prospects for the use of such cured systems as dielectric elastomers for various purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites: Manufacturing, Processing and Applications)

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