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Polymers
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Advances in Carbon/Polymer Composites: Preparation and Application
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Advances in Carbon/Polymer Composites: Preparation and Application

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2026) | Viewed by 2974

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Prasad Karthika

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Interests: carbon nano composites; cold atmospheric plasma; polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue entitled “Advances in Carbon/Polymer Composites: Preparation and Application” aims to share high-quality original research articles and comprehensive reviews on the recent progress in this fast-paced interdisciplinary field. Carbon/polymer composites are critical in addressing real-world challenges due to their lightweight, high-strength properties and versatility in diverse applications. These materials play a critical role across industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and biomedical engineering, owing to their ability to integrate advanced functionality and sustainability.

In the last few decades, significant advancements have been made in the synthesis, characterization, and application of carbon/polymer composites, driven by the merging of chemical, physical, computational, and engineering sciences. This Special Issue will focus on novel developments in understanding and enhancing the mechanical, thermal, and functional properties of these composites to meet emerging industrial demands.

An in-depth understanding of the interactions between carbon-based reinforcements and polymer matrices is essential for developing next-generation composite materials. This Special Issue encourages contributions that explore these materials' design, processing, and applications, bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical implementation.

Both original contributions and comprehensive reviews are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Development of carbon-based reinforcements (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibres) in polymer matrices;
  • Advanced manufacturing techniques, including the additive manufacturing of composites;
  • Mechanical, thermal, and electrical characterization of carbon/polymer composites;
  • Computational modeling and simulation for design and performance prediction;
  • Functional carbon/polymer composites for energy storage, sensors, and electronics;
  • Durability, degradation, and recycling of carbon/polymer composites;
  • Applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and energy sectors.

We invite researchers to contribute their latest findings, insights, and innovations to this Special Issue, showcasing how carbon/polymer composites are shaping the future of advanced materials.

Authors are welcome to submit their latest research findings in the form of original full articles, letters, communications, or reviews on these topics.

Dr. Prasad Karthika
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • carbon/polymer composites
  • advanced manufacturing
  • functional materials
  • mechanical and thermal properties
  • sustainability
  • energy applications
  • biomedical applications
  • aerospace applications
  • computational modeling
  • recycling and durability

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 9097 KB  
Article
Polyimide Reinforced with Graphene/Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Surface Degradation Study Under Atomic Oxygen
by Xianbang Zeng, Priyanka Prakash, Sahar Hosseini, Mahdiar Taheri, Joice Mathew, Eduardo Trifoni, Igor Levchenko, Janith Weerasinghe, Karthika Prasad and Katia Alexander
Polymers 2026, 18(4), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18040522 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit erodes polyimide, increasing surface roughness and degrading performance. The reactive species scission polymer chains and remove surface material, exposing fresh sites that accelerate further attack and disrupt thermal, electrical, and mechanical functions. In this paper, we evaluate [...] Read more.
Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit erodes polyimide, increasing surface roughness and degrading performance. The reactive species scission polymer chains and remove surface material, exposing fresh sites that accelerate further attack and disrupt thermal, electrical, and mechanical functions. In this paper, we evaluate nanoscale reinforcements of polyimide with graphene and metal oxides under controlled atomic oxygen exposure equivalent to 145 days at a 550 km orbit. Graphene with a thickness of few nanometers and particle size less than 2 µm, and metal oxides zirconia, zinc oxide, and titania with particle size less than 100 nm were investigated. Hybrids containing graphene plus metal oxide at a 1:1 ratio and a total loading of 0.75 wt% increased roughness relative to neat polyimide, with graphene-zirconia showing a rise of +121 percent, graphene-zinc oxide +10 percent, and graphene–titania +20 percent. The behavior is consistent with agglomeration, incomplete dispersion, and interfacial mismatch that hinder uniform blocking of atomic oxygen and limit formation of protective oxygenated groups. In contrast, single-filler composites at 0.75 wt% reduced average roughness, with graphene lowering Sa by about 59 percent, zirconia by about 51%, titania by about 47%, and zinc oxide by about 47%. Varying graphene loading from 0.25 to 0.75 wt% diminished erosive features at the higher end, but atomic force microscopy revealed isolated tall peaks at 0.75 wt%, indicating localized restacking or agglomeration. Mechanical testing of graphene-reinforced coatings on fiberglass showed a similar trade-off, with tensile strength around 23 MPa and peak load greater than 50 N at 0.5 wt% compared to about 21 MPa and 40 N at 0.75 wt%, while strain at break remained comparable. These results define practical limits for nanoparticle reinforcement in polyimide, linking filler identity, loading, and dispersion quality to atomic oxygen response and sustained function in LEO. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon/Polymer Composites: Preparation and Application)
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11 pages, 4920 KB  
Article
Process Monitoring for Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion by Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Sensors
by Yi Shi, Beibei Wang, Kui Du, Yanan Liu, Ruiqi Kang, Shaokai Wang, Jiayu Zhang, Yizhuo Gu and Min Li
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040459 - 9 Feb 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2103
Abstract
This paper developed a carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated aramid fiber sensor, which was successfully used to monitor the resin flow front and sense the fluid pressure difference during the (VARI) process. The electrical resistance change of the CNT-coated fiber sensor was compared with that [...] Read more.
This paper developed a carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated aramid fiber sensor, which was successfully used to monitor the resin flow front and sense the fluid pressure difference during the (VARI) process. The electrical resistance change of the CNT-coated fiber sensor was compared with that of buckypaper materials. The results show that the electrical resistances of CNT sensors show rapid growth successively along the infusion direction once the flow front reaches the sensor position during resin infusion in the VARI process. The electrical resistance of CNT-coated fiber sensors may increase by as much as 12 times after full impregnation. For the thicker preform, the resistance change ΔR/R0 of sensors on the top surface is closely related to fluid pressure, and bigger fluid pressure close to the inlet may result in a larger ΔR/R0. Two competitive factors affecting the electrical resistance of a CNT-coated sensor are revealed: aramid fiber tow swelling due to resin impregnation, and the compaction effect arising from resin pressure on the CNT network. In addition, the sensors on the top surface show a bigger ΔR/R0 than the bottom ones, and as the preform thickness decreases, these sensors tend to show smaller ΔR/R0. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon/Polymer Composites: Preparation and Application)
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