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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 23756

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vineet Kumar

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Republic of Korea
Interests: rubber nanocomposites; graphene; carbon nanotube; mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites; hybrid fillers; elastomers; magneto-rheological elastomers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiaowu Tang

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Guest Editor

College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: printing organic electronics; nanomaterials; polymer composites and smart materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Without filler and vulcanization, polymers such as rubber-based composites are soft and sticky and exhibit poor mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, and they are not useful for industrial application. Thus, the main motivation behind the curing and addition of nanofillers is improving such properties and making these polymer composites useful for practical applications. These nanofillers are generally inorganic particles such as carbon nanotube, carbon black, graphene, clay minerals, and silica. With the addition of these nanofillers in small amounts, the desired properties of polymer composites improve massively without significantly altering the hardness and fracture strain of polymer composites. These improved properties may be useful for various practical applications, such as flexible electronics, automobile tires, soft actuators, strain sensors, or energy harvesting.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect literature on the subject of “Nanofiller-Reinforced Polymer Composites”, with topics of interest including the effect of various nanofillers on mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, as well as the use of the improved properties on industrial applications such as flexible substrates. This issue will guide industrial oriented research and development activities in the field of polymer composites. More specifically, it focus on but not be limited to the following research topics:

Nanofiller-based polymer composites;
All types of inorganic nanofillers;
All types of polymer matrixes, including thermoplasts, thermosets, elastomers, etc.;
Mechanical, electrical, or thermal properties of polymer composites;
Functionalized or non-functionalized polymer composites;
Multiscale modeling and theoretical studies in polymer composites;
Materials for 3D and 4D printing;
Self-healing and self-cleaning mechanisms;
Aging, durability, and life-time fatigue test of polymer composites;
All industrial applications, including medical prospects of polymer composites.

Dr. Vineet Kumar
Dr. Xiaowu Tang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nanofiller-based polymer composites
all types of inorganic nanofillers
all types of polymer matrixes, including thermoplasts, thermosets, elastomers, etc.
mechanical, electrical, or thermal properties of polymer composites
functionalized or non-functionalized polymer composites
multiscale modeling and theoretical studies in polymer composites
materials for 3D and 4D printing
self-healing and self-cleaning mechanisms
aging, durability, and life-time fatigue test of polymer composites
all industrial applications, including medical prospects of polymer composites

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

5 pages, 197 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

New Horizons in Nanofiller-Based Polymer Composites II

by Vineet Kumar and Xiaowu Tang

Polymers 2023, 15(21), 4259; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15214259 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2180

Abstract

Nanofiller-based polymer composites are a hot-topic research area with significant industrial potential [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

27 pages, 11045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Conductivity and Phase-Change Properties of Boron Nitride–Lead Oxide Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Nanocomposites

by Bülend Ortaç, Saliha Mutlu, Taylan Baskan, Sevil Savaskan Yilmaz, Ahmet Hakan Yilmaz and Burcu Erol

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2326; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102326 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

Thermally conductive phase-change materials (PCMs) were produced using the crosslinked Poly (Styrene-block-Ethylene Glycol Di Methyl Methacrylate) (PS-PEG DM) copolymer by employing boron nitride (BN)/lead oxide (PbO) nanoparticles. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) methods were used to research the phase transition temperatures, the phase-change enthalpies (melting enthalpy (ΔH_m), and crystallization enthalpies (ΔH_c)). The thermal conductivities (λ) of the PS-PEG/BN/PbO PCM nanocomposites were investigated. The λ value of PS-PEG/BN/PbO PCM nanocomposite containing BN 13 wt%, PbO 60.90 wt%, and PS-PEG 26.10 wt% was determined to be 18.874 W/(mK). The crystallization fraction (F_c) values of PS-PEG (1000), PS-PEG (1500), and PS-PEG (10,000) copolymers were 0.032, 0.034, and 0.063, respectively. XRD results of the PCM nanocomposites showed that the sharp diffraction peaks at 17.00 and 25.28 °C of the PS-PEG copolymer belonged to the PEG part. Since the PS-PEG/PbO and the PS-PEG/PbO/BN nanocomposites show remarkable thermal conductivity performance, they can be used as conductive polymer nanocomposites for effective heat dissipation in heat exchangers, power electronics, electric motors, generators, communication, and lighting equipment. At the same time, according to our results, PCM nanocomposites can be considered as heat storage materials in energy storage systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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18 pages, 4358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring Triple Filler Systems for Improved Magneto-Mechanical Performance in Silicone Rubber Composites

by Vineet Kumar, Md Najib Alam, Manesh A. Yewale and Sang-Shin Park

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2287; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102287 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1542

Abstract

The demand for multi-functional elastomers is increasing, as they offer a range of desirable properties such as reinforcement, mechanical stretchability, magnetic sensitivity, strain sensing, and energy harvesting capabilities. The excellent durability of these composites is the key factor behind their promising multi-functionality. In this study, various composites based on multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), clay minerals (MT-Clay), electrolyte iron particles (EIP), and their hybrids were used to fabricate these devices using silicone rubber as the elastomeric matrix. The mechanical performance of these composites was evaluated, with their compressive moduli, which was found to be 1.73 MPa for the control sample, 3.9 MPa for MWCNT composites at 3 per hundred parts of rubber (phr), 2.2 MPa for MT-Clay composites (8 phr), 3.2 MPa for EIP composites (80 phr), and 4.1 MPa for hybrid composites (80 phr). After evaluating the mechanical performance, the composites were assessed for industrial use based on their improved properties. The deviation from their experimental performance was studied using various theoretical models such as the Guth–Gold Smallwood model and the Halpin–Tsai model. Finally, a piezo-electric energy harvesting device was fabricated using the aforementioned composites, and their output voltages were measured. The MWCNT composites showed the highest output voltage of approximately 2 milli-volt (mV), indicating their potential for this application. Lastly, magnetic sensitivity and stress relaxation tests were performed on the hybrid and EIP composites, with the hybrid composite demonstrating better magnetic sensitivity and stress relaxation. Overall, this study provides guidance on achieving promising mechanical properties in such materials and their suitability for various applications, such as energy harvesting and magnetic sensitivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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15 pages, 2159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Encapsulating a Prebiotic-Based Biopolymer Delivery System for Enhanced Probiotic Survival

by Aida Kistaubayeva, Malika Abdulzhanova, Sirina Zhantlessova, Irina Savitskaya, Tatyana Karpenyuk, Alla Goncharova and Yuriy Sinyavskiy

Polymers 2023, 15(7), 1752; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15071752 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2700

Abstract

Orally delivered probiotics must survive transit through harsh environments during gastrointestinal (GI) digestion and be delivered and released into the target site. The aim of this work was to evaluate the survivability and delivery of gel-encapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) to the colon. New hybrid symbiotic beads alginate/prebiotic pullulan/probiotic LGG were obtained by the extrusion method. The average size of the developed beads was 3401 µm (wet), 921 µm (dry) and the bacterial titer was 10⁹ CFU/g. The morphology of the beads was studied by a scanning electron microscope, demonstrating the structure of the bacterial cellulose shell and loading with probiotics. For the first time, we propose adding an enzymatic extract of feces to an artificial colon fluid, which mimics the total hydrolytic activity of the intestinal microbiota. The beads can be digested by fecalase with cellulase activity, indicating intestinal release. The encapsulation of LGG significantly enhanced their viability under simulated GI conditions. However, the beads, in combination with the prebiotic, provided greater protection of bacteria, enhancing their survival and even increasing cell numbers in the capsules. These data suggest the promising prospects of coencapsulation as an innovative delivery method based on the inclusion of probiotic bacteria in a symbiotic matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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11 pages, 1553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Comparison of Surface Roughness, Flexural, and Microtensile Strength of Various Glass-Ionomer-Based Materials and a New Alkasite Restorative Material

by Alper Kaptan, Fatih Oznurhan and Merve Candan

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030650 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2475

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the physical properties of Cention N and various glass-ionomer-based materials in vitro. The groups were obtained as follows: Group 1 (LC-Cent): light-cured Cention N; Group 2 (SC-Cent): self-cured Cention N; Group 3 (COMP): composite (3M Universal Restorative 200); Group 4 (DYRA): compomer (Dyract XP); Group 5 (LINER): Glass Liner; Group 6 (FUJI): FujiII LC Capsule; and Group 7 (NOVA): Nova Glass LC. For the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) test, 21 extracted human molar teeth were used. The enamel of the teeth was removed, and flat dentin surfaces were obtained. Materials were applied up to 3 mm, and sticks were obtained from the teeth. Additionally, specimens were prepared, and their flexural strength and surface roughness (Ra) were evaluated. Herein, data were recorded using SPSS 22.0, and the flexural strength, μTBS, and Ra were statistically analyzed. According to the surface roughness tests, the highest Ra values were observed in Group 6 (FUJI) (0.33 ± 0.1), whereas the lowest Ra values were observed in Group 2 (SC-Cent) (0.17 ± 0.04) (p < 0.05). The flexural strengths of the materials were compared, and the highest value was obtained in Group 2 (SC-Cent) (86.32 ± 15.37), whereas the lowest value was obtained in Group 5 (LINER) (41.75 ± 10.05) (p < 0.05). When the μTBS of materials to teeth was evaluated, the highest μTBS was observed in Group 3 (COMP) (16.50 ± 7.73) and Group 4 (DYRA) (16.36 ± 4.64), whereas the lowest μTBS was found in Group 7 (NOVA) (9.88 ± 1.87) (p < 0.05). According to the μTBS results of materials-to-materials bonding, both Group 2 (SC-Cent) and Group 1 (LC-Cent) made the best bonding with Group 3 (COMP) (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that self-cured Cention N had the highest flexural strength and lowest surface roughness of the seven materials tested. Although the bond strength was statistically lower than conventional composites and compomers, it was similar to resin-modified glass ionomer cements. Additionally, the best material-to-material bonding was found between self-cured Cention N and conventional composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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24 pages, 7806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Hybrid FEM/Peridynamic Study on the Fracture of Ultra-High-Performance Concretes Reinforced by Different Volume Fractions of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibers

by Kun Zhang, Tao Ni, Jin Zhang, Wen Wang, Xi Chen, Mirco Zaccariotto, Wei Yin, Shengxue Zhu and Ugo Galvanetto

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030501 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1763

Abstract

In this study, a series of three-point bending tests were carried out with notched beam structures made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) to study the effect of volume fractions of PVA fibers on the fracture characteristics of the UHPC-PVAs. Furthermore, in order to meet the increasing demand for time- and cost-saving design methods related to research and design experimentation for the UHPC structures, a relevant hybrid finite element and extended bond-based peridynamic numerical modeling approach is proposed to numerically analyze the fracture behaviors of the UHPC-PVA structures in 3D. In the proposed method, the random distribution of the fibers is considered according to their corresponding volume fractions. The predicted peak values of the applied force agree well with the experimental results, which validates the effectiveness and accuracy of the present method. Both the experimental and numerical results indicate that, increasing the PVA fiber volume fraction, the strength of the produced UHPC-PVAs will increase approximately linearly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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18 pages, 6440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication of Nylon 6-Montmorillonite Clay Nanocomposites with Enhanced Structural and Mechanical Properties by Solution Compounding

by Ahmed M. Abdel-Gawad, Adham R. Ramadan, Araceli Flores and Amal M. K. Esawi

Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4471; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214471 - 22 Oct 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

Melt compounding has been favored by researchers for producing nylon 6/montmorillonite clay nanocomposites. It was reported that high compatibility between the clay and the nylon6 matrix is essential for producing exfoliated and well-dispersed clay particles within the nylon6 matrix. Though solution compounding represents an alternative preparation method, reported research for its use for the preparation of nylon 6/montmorillonite clay is limited. In the present work, solution compounding was used to prepare nylon6/montmorillonite clays and was found to produce exfoliated nylon 6/montmorillonite nanocomposites, for both organically modified clays with known compatibility with nylon 6 (Cloisite 30B) and clays with low/no compatibility with nylon 6 (Cloisite 15A and Na⁺-MMT), though to a lower extent. Additionally, solution compounding was found to produce the more stable α crystal structure for both blank nylon6 and nylon6/montmorillonite clays. The process was found to enhance the matrix crystallinity of blank nylon6 samples from 36 to 58%. The resulting composites were found to possess comparable mechanical properties to similar composites produced by melt blending. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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15 pages, 6342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrical Properties of Polyetherimide-Based Nanocomposites Filled with Reduced Graphene Oxide and Graphene Oxide-Barium Titanate-Based Hybrid Nanoparticles

by Quimberly Cuenca-Bracamonte, Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram and Héctor Aguilar-Bolados

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4266; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204266 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1739

Abstract

The electrical properties of nanocomposites based on polyetherimide (PEI) filled with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a graphene oxide hybrid material obtained from graphene oxide grafted with poly(monomethyl itaconate) (PMMI) modified with barium titanate nanoparticles (BTN) getting (GO-g-PMMI/BTN) were studied. The results indicated that the nanocomposite filled with GO-g-PMMI/BTN had almost the same electrical conductivity as PEI (1 × 10⁻¹¹ S/cm). However, the nanocomposite containing 10 wt.% rGO and 10 wt.% GO-g-PMMI/BTN as fillers showed an electrical conductivity in the order of 1 × 10⁻⁷ S/cm. This electrical conductivity is higher than that obtained for nanocomposites filled with 10% rGO (1 × 10⁻⁸ S/cm). The combination of rGO and GO-g-PMMI/BTN as filler materials generates a synergistic effect within the polymeric matrix of the nanocomposite favoring the increase in the electrical conductivity of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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11 pages, 3727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Magnetic Field Influence on the Microwave Characteristics of Composite Samples Based on Polycrystalline Y-Type Hexaferrite

by Svetoslav Kolev, Borislava Georgieva, Tatyana Koutzarova, Kiril Krezhov, Chavdar Ghelev, Daniela Kovacheva, Benedicte Vertruyen, Raphael Closset, Lan Maria Tran, Michal Babij and Andrzej J. Zaleski

Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4114; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14194114 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2184

Abstract

Here, we report results on the magnetic and microwave properties of polycrystalline Y-type hexaferrite synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion and acting as a filler in a composite microwave-absorbing material. The reflection losses in the 1–20 GHz range of the Y-type hexaferrite powder dispersed homogeneously in a polymer matrix of silicon rubber were investigated in the absence and in the presence of a magnetic field. A permanent magnet was used with a strength of 1.4 T, with the magnetic force lines oriented perpendicularly to the direction of the electromagnetic wave propagation. In the case of using an external magnetic field, an extraordinary result was observed. The microwave reflection losses reached a maximum value of 35.4 dB at 5.6 GHz in the Ku-band without a magnetic field and a maximum value of 21.4 dB at 8.2 GHz with the external magnetic field applied. The sensitivity of the microwave properties of the composite material to the external magnetic field was manifested by the decrease of the reflected wave attenuation. At a fixed thickness, t_m, of the composite, the attenuation peak frequency can be adjusted to a certain value either by changing the filling density or by applying an external magnetic field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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13 pages, 3116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advancement of the Power-Law Model and Its Percolation Exponent for the Electrical Conductivity of a Graphene-Containing System as a Component in the Biosensing of Breast Cancer

by Yasser Zare, Kyong Yop Rhee and Soo Jin Park

Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3057; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153057 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1481

Abstract

The power-law model for composite conductivity is expanded for graphene-based samples using the effects of interphase, tunnels and net on the effective filler fraction, percolation start and “b” exponent. In fact, filler dimensions, interphase thickness, tunneling distance and net dimension/density express the effective filler fraction, percolation start and “b” exponent. The developed equations are assessed by experimented values from previous works. Additionally, the effects of all parameters on “b” exponent and conductivity are analyzed. The experimented quantities of percolation start and conductivity confirm the predictability of the expressed equations. Thick interphase, large tunneling distance, high aspect ratio and big nets as well as skinny and large graphene nano-sheets produce a low “b” and a high conductivity, because they improve the conduction efficiency of graphene nets in the system. Graphene-filled nanocomposites can be applied in the biosensing of breast cancer cells and thus the developed model can help optimize the performance of biosensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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15 pages, 4763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soft Composites Filled with Iron Oxide and Graphite Nanoplatelets under Static and Cyclic Strain for Different Industrial Applications

by Vineet Kumar, Md Najib Alam and Sang Shin Park

Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2393; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122393 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 1830

Abstract

Simultaneously exhibiting both a magnetic response and piezoelectric energy harvesting in magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) is a win–win situation in a soft (hardness below 65) composite-based device. In the present work, composites based on iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) were prepared and exhibited a magnetic response; other composites based on the electrically conductive reinforcing nanofiller, graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), were also prepared and exhibited energy generation. A piezoelectric energy-harvesting device based on composites exhibited an impressive voltage of ~10 V and demonstrated a high durability of 0.5 million cycles. These nanofillers were added in room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV-SR) and their magnetic response and piezoelectric energy generation were studied both in single and hybrid form. The hybrid composite consisted of 10 per hundred parts of rubber (phr) of Fe₂O₃ and 10 phr of GNP. The experimental data show that the compressive modulus of the composites was 1.71 MPa (virgin), 2.73 (GNP), 2.65 MPa (Fe₂O₃), and 3.54 MPa (hybrid). Similarly, the fracture strain of the composites was 89% (virgin), 109% (GNP), 105% (Fe₂O₃), 133% (hybrid). Moreover, cyclic multi-hysteresis tests show that the hybrid composites exhibiting higher mechanical properties had the shortcoming of showing higher dissipation losses. In the end, this work demonstrates a rubber composite that provides an energy-harvesting device with an impressive voltage, high durability, and MREs with high magnetic sensitivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Nanofillers Based Polymer Composites II)

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