Processing and Applications of Polymer Composite Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites are materials comprising polymer matrices (natural and synthetic polymers) and additives (i.e., fillers, plasticizers, lubricants, stabilizers, modifiers) that improve their properties. Individual components in the composite persist together through physical or chemical interactions but keep their physical or chemical characteristics and display superiority over the original materials. Polymer composites are fabricated in diverse shapes and sizes based on their application using several techniques such as melt-extrusion, injection molding, electrospinning, and solution mixing. From these techniques, polymer composites can be fabricated in diverse structures, such as strands, flat sheets, thin films, microspheres/microparticles, and fibers. To date, polymer composites have been used in various fields such as construction, aerospace, electronics, medical devices, and biomedical applications.

This Special Issue entitled “Processing and Applications of Polymer Composite Materials” seeks high-quality work to develop new materials based on polymer composites for multifunctional applications (i.e., drug delivery, water and wastewater purification). Topics include, but are not limited to, the following progresses in the manufacture and compounding of polymer composite materials:

• Improvement in the thermal, mechanical, morphological, thermal, and flammability properties of polymer composites by adding fillers, plasticizers, lubricants, stabilizers, modifiers, and flame retardants and their combinations.
• Innovative methods to estimate and measure the physical, mechanical, and chemical performances of polymer composites.
• Enhancement in the barrier properties of polymer composites by incorporating nanoparticles in the polymer matrix.
• Polymer composites in 3D printing.
• Polymer composite materials based on repellents, insecticides, and fertilizers.

Dr. Antônio Benjamim Mapossa
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. Processes 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 2400 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.

• polymer composites
• processing techniques
• additives
• fibers
• membranes
• hybrid matrix
• performance