Applied Sciences

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing interest in innovative and high-performance materials has made composite materials an interesting object of research because of their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and wide range of applications (aerospace, automotive, electronics, constructions, packaging, medical devices, etc.). On the one hand, many studies are devoted to the exploration of new high-cost techniques for the production of composite materials. On the other hand, other studies are concerned with optimizing processes for existing techniques in order to obtain high-performance, yet lightweight, materials.

This Special Issue will focus on polymer composite materials, innovative technologies, and manufacturing processes. Contributions may relate to conventional or unconventional processes and may highlight novel aspects of processing and manufacturing methods, coating technologies, fiber treatments, and materials that can be used to produce cost-effective and eco-friendly materials. Topics may include their mechanical, thermal, microstructural, and morphological properties and modeling. Submissions on related topics are welcome, including bioplastics and microplastics, as well as their synthesis, characterization, and their applications. This Issue will also accept state-of-the-art reviews on different composite materials by highlighting the range of applications for polymeric materials.

Dr. Evangelia Tarani
Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Chrissafis
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. Applied Sciences 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 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.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

Research

22 pages, 8459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lignocellulosic-Based/High Density Polyethylene Composites: A Comprehensive Study on Fiber Characteristics and Performance Evaluation

by Dimitra Patsiaoura, Evangelia Tarani, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris, Eleni Pavlidou and Konstantinos Chrissafis

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3582; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093582 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 377

Abstract

Lignocellulosic-based polymer composites have gained significant interest due to their ‘’green’’ character as a response to environmental concerns. A diverse array of lignocellulosic fibers is utilized, depending on fiber dimensions, chemical composition, moisture content, and the fiber–matrix interface. The aim of this study is to establish an alternative standardized methodology, aimed at comparatively estimating the performance of polymer composites through the examination of individual plant fibers. The fibers studied are ramie, hemp, flax, and kenaf, and HDPE-based corresponding composites were analyzed for their performance across various fiber-content levels (10, 20, and 30 wt.%). It was found that kenaf showcases the largest average fiber diameter, succeeded by hemp, ramie, and flax. Additionally, ramie and kenaf exhibit elevated levels of crystallinity, suggesting increased cellulose content, with kenaf having the lowest crystallinity index among the fibers compared. Based on Thermogravimetric analysis, ramie displays the lowest moisture content among the examined fibers, followed by hemp, flax, and ultimately kenaf, which is recorded to have the highest moisture content, while, similarly, ramie exhibits the lowest mass loss at the processing temperature of the corresponding composites. Composites containing fibers with smaller diameters and higher crystallinity indexes and lower moisture absorptions, such as ramie and hemp, demonstrate superior thermal stability and exhibit increased Young’s modulus values in their respective composites. However, poor interfacial adhesion affects mechanical performance across all composites. Understanding fiber morphology, inner structure, and thermal stability is important for developing new composite materials and optimizing their selection for various applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Technology for Polymer Composite Materials, 2nd Edition)

► Show Figures