Plasma Processing of Polymers, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Plasma processing plays a crucial role in the synthesis and modification of polymer-based materials, being widely employed in both laboratory research and various industrial applications for optics, protective coatings, electronics, biomedical devices, and so on. In the new era of the circular economy, the usage of plasma polymers faces new challenges regarding the final product design, utilization of renewable resources, and innovative technologies that prioritize responsibility for end-of-life management.

Fortunately, substantial flexibility in the case of plasma polymers is gained through the adjustment of operational parameters like power, frequency, gas type and flow rates, polymeric precursors, or the plasma discharge modes. This versatility enables the customization of polymeric material properties, whether at the surface or within the bulk. Moreover, the field has witnessed notable progress in utilizing various atmospheric pressure plasma sources, thanks to their simplicity in construction, ease of use, and seamless integration into industrial production lines for polymer plasma processing.

Certainly, the ultimate performance of plasma-processed polymeric materials is closely linked to plasma parameters, emphasizing the importance of real-time monitoring and control of plasma sources.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest advancements in experimental, diagnostic, and industrial aspects through a collection of original research papers and review articles proposed by leading experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, and industrial engineering. The emphasis lies in plasma processing for advancing polymer-based materials, including plasma processes and modification techniques tailored to meet market demands and align with the principles of the circular economy. In this context, the following topics are considered to be of particular interest:

• Plasma synthesis of polymer-like thin films and nanoparticles;
• Plasma synthesis of nano- and micro-composite materials containing at least one polymeric component;
• Plasma cleaning and functionalization of polymer surfaces;
• In-liquid plasma processing and functionalization of polymers;
• Sterilization and disinfection of polymeric surfaces through plasma exposure;
• Investigation of reaction mechanisms and plasma-assisted chemistry;
• Plasma diagnostics, modeling, and simulation for plasmas in polymerizable gases;
• Applications of plasma polymers in flexible (nano)electronics, sensors, separation, and catalysis;
• Expanding the utilization of polymers in the textile industry through plasma processing;
• Plasma polymers reusage, recycling, and recovery. 

The goal is to provide an extensive overview of cutting-edge research in these areas and foster discussions that contribute to the ongoing progress in plasma processing for polymer-based materials.

Dr. Bogdana Mitu
Dr. Veronica Satulu
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. 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.

• plasma techniques for deposition and polymerization
• plasma diagnostics in polymerizable gases
• plasma treatment of polymers
• applications of plasma polymers
• 3R in plasma polymers

• Plasma Processing of Polymers in Polymers (8 articles)