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Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II

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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: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 4564

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. SD Jacob Muthu

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Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Interests: hydrogen and natural gas blend transportation; piping engineering design; piping coating and liners; pipeline integrity management system; piping materials and failure; nano and hybrid composites liners for corrosion control; nanofluid and nano-composites membranes for CO₂ capture; fatigue; fretting fatigue and fracture mechanics; finite element analysis and multiscale modeling
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the Special Issue of Polymers entitled “Advance in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites”, we are delighted to reopen the Special Issue, now entitled “Advance in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II”.

Polymer composites are a class of material manufactured by blending various types of reinforcement with the polymer matrix. Although these materials are utilized in a number of engineering applications, their mechanical and thermal properties need to be obtained in order to select a suitable application. Their properties can be characterized using both experimental and numerical modeling techniques, and this Special Issue will focus on publishing research works addressing these topics.

Dr. S. D. Jacob Muthu
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. Polymers 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

polymer composites
hybrid composites
interlaminar strength
nano-reinforcements
thermomechanical properties
thermal properties
numerical modeling
FEA

Related Special Issue

Advance in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites in Polymers (10 articles)

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 7233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multiscale Modeling and Characterization of Graphene Epoxy Nanocomposite

by Collins Ekeowa and SD Jacob Muthu

Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091209 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 314

Abstract

This study aims to characterize graphene epoxy nanocomposite properties using multiscale modeling. Molecular dynamics was used to study the nanocomposite at the nanoscale and finite element analysis at the macroscale to complete the multiscale modeling. The coupling of these two scales was carried out using the Irving–Kirkwood averaging method. First, the functionalization of graphene was carried and 6% grafted graphene was selected based on Young’s modulus and the tensile strength of the grafted graphene sheet. Functionalized graphene with weight fractions of 1.8, 3.7, and 5.6 wt.% were reinforced with epoxy polymer to form a graphene epoxy nanocomposite. The results showed that the graphene with 3.7 wt.% achieved the highest modulus. Subsequently, a functionalized graphene sheet with an epoxy matrix was developed to obtain the interphase properties using the MD modeling technique. The normal and shear forces at the interphase region of the graphene epoxy nanocomposite were investigated using a traction-separation test to analyze the mechanical properties including Young’s modulus and traction forces. The mean stiffness of numerically tested samples with 1.8, 3.7, and 5.6 wt.% graphene and the stiffness obtained from experimental results from the literature were compared. The experimental results are lower than the multiscale model results because the experiments cannot replicate the molecular-scale behavior. However, a similar trend could be observed for the addition of up to 3.7 wt.% graphene. This demonstrated that the graphene with 3.7 wt.% shows improved interphase properties. The macroscale properties of the graphene epoxy nanocomposite models with 1.8 and 3.7 wt.% were comparatively higher. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II)

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17 pages, 9410 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Full-Scale Experimental and Field Investigations into Expansion Mechanism of Foamed Polyurethane and its Lifting Behaviors for Repair and Maintenance of Railway Slab Track Systems

by Zhichao Huang, Qian Su, Ting Liu, Junjie Huang, Xun Wang and Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Polymers 2024, 16(3), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030404 - 31 Jan 2024

Viewed by 640

Abstract

Excessive settlement of the subgrade seriously reduces the service quality of slab tracks and threatens trains’ running safety. While the utilization of foamed polyurethane is recognized as an effective solution, previous research on its expansion mechanism and its impact on track lifting requires further refinement. Accordingly, a series of full-scale tests, including expansion force tests on foamed polyurethane with diverse qualities and lifting tests of polyurethane grouting with varied qualities on the track structure, have been conducted. The expansion development process of foamed polyurethane is meticulously elucidated, and key expansion parameters are analyzed. Simultaneously, this research explores the lifting behavior of foamed polyurethane grouting under the slab tracks, yielding new insights into essential lifting parameters for track formation repair and maintenance. Based on the experimental data, this study proposes new empirical formulas to comprehensively describe both the expansion mechanism of foam polyurethane and its lifting behavior under the slab tracks. The outcomes of this research offer a new breakthrough for the design of lifting mechanism for maintaining slab track structures through the utilization of foam polyurethane slurry grouting, such as determining the optimal grouting quantity. In addition, these results are instrumental to the evaluation of lifting effects and service life, enhancing the circular economy of railway track systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II)

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11 pages, 2678 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Form-Stable Composite Phase Change Materials Based on Porous Copper–Graphene Heterostructures for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage

by Chao Chang, Bo Li, Baocai Fu, Xu Yang and Yulong Ji

Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4723; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244723 - 16 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 887

Abstract

Solar–thermal energy conversion and storage technology has attracted great interest in the past few decades. Phase change materials (PCMs), by storing and releasing solar energy, are able to effectively address the imbalance between energy supply and demand, but they still have the disadvantage of low thermal conductivity and leakage problems. In this work, new form-stable solar thermal storage materials by impregnating paraffin PCMs within porous copper–graphene (G–Cu) heterostructures were designed, which integrated high thermal conductivity, high solar energy absorption, and anti-leakage properties. In this new structure, graphene can directly absorb and store solar energy in the paraffin PCMs by means of phase change heat transfer. The porous structure provided good heat conduction, and the large surface area increased the loading capacity of solar thermal storage materials. The small pores and superhydrophobic surfaces of the modified porous G–Cu heterostructures effectively hindered the leakage issues during the phase change process. The experimental results exhibited that the thermal conductivity of the prepared form-stable PCM composites was up to 2.99 W/(m·K), and no leakage took place in the solar–thermal charging process. At last, we demonstrated that the PCM composites as an energy source were easily integrated with a thermoelectric chip to generate electric energy by absorbing and converting solar energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II)

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12 pages, 5402 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Crafting and Analyzing Multi-Structured Aramid Materials and Their Pyrolytic Transformations: A Comprehensive Exploration

by Miriam Trigo-López, Álvaro Miguel, José M. García, Aránzazu Mendía, Virginia Ruiz, Artur J. M. Valente and Saúl Vallejos

Polymers 2023, 15(21), 4315; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15214315 - 3 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1003

Abstract

Gradient porous materials, particularly carbon-based materials, hold immense potential in the fields of batteries, energy storage, electrocatalysis, and sensing, among others, by synergistically combining the attributes associated with each pore size within a unified structural framework. In this study, we developed a gradient porous aramid (GP-Aramid) by incorporating cellulose acetate as a porosity promoter in the polymer casting solution in different proportions. These GP-Aramids were subsequently transformed into their pyrolyzed counterparts (GP-Pyramids), retaining their original structures while displaying diverse cellular or dense microstructures inherited from the parent aramid, as confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction spectra provided evidence of the conversion of aramids into carbonaceous materials. The materials showed structural defects observed through the intensity ratio of the G and D bands (ID/IG = 1.05) in the Raman spectra, while X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) revealed that the carbonization process yielded pyrolyzed carbon materials unusually rich in nitrogen (6%), oxygen (20%), and carbon (72%), which is especially relevant for catalysis applications. The pyrolyzed materials showed bulk resistivities from 5.3 ± 0.3 to 34.2 ± 0.6 depending on the meta- or para-orientation of the aramid and the porous structure. This work contributes to understanding these gradient porous aromatic polyamides’ broader significance and potential applications in various fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II)

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20 pages, 39128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composites with Re-Entrant Lattice: Effect of Filler on Auxetic Behaviour

by Mikhail Tashkinov, Anastasia Tarasova, Ilia Vindokurov and Vadim V. Silberschmidt

Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4076; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204076 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1269

Abstract

This study is focused on the deformation behaviour of composites formed by auxetic lattice structures acting as a matrix based on the re-entrant unit-cell geometry with a soft filler, motivated by biomedical applications. Three-dimensional models of two types of the auxetic-lattice structures were manufactured using filament deposition modelling. Numerical finite-element models were developed for computational analysis of the effect of the filler with different mechanical properties on the effective Poisson’s ratio and mechanical behaviour of such composites. Tensile tests of 3D-printed auxetic samples were performed with strain measurements using digital image correlation. The use of the filler phase with various elastic moduli resulted in positive, negative, and close-to-zero effective Poisson’s ratios. Two approaches for numerical measurement of the Poisson’s ratio were used. The failure probability of the two-phase composites with auxetic structure depending on the filler stiffness was investigated by assessing statistical distributions of stresses in the finite-elements models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Polymer Composites II)

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