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J. Compos. Sci.
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Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer...
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Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 5470

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aleksander Hejna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Technology, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Interests: polymer composites; reactive processing; lignocellulose fillers; filler modification; recycling; waste management; polyurethane foams
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Journal of Composites Science is preparing a Special Issue entitled “Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites”.

One of the main research trends associated with polymer composites focuses on searching for new methods to improve interfacial interactions between often hydrophobic polymer matrices and hydrophilic fillers, which affect their final performance properties. Compatibility and, to be more precise, lack of compatibility between matrix and fillers is one of the main problems associated with the manufacturing of polymer composites. Significant differences in chemical structure and polarity of components used usually result in weak interfacial adhesion. Therefore, it is essential to improve the compatibility between filler and polymer matrix, as strong interfacial interactions are crucial to achieving satisfactory mechanical properties of composites. Such an approach may be realized by providing possibilities for chemical bonding of modified filler with functional groups present in the polymer backbone or by changing the character of the fillers’ surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, simultaneously enhancing the affinity of the filler toward the polymer matrix. Depending on the chemical structure of filler and, most of all, polymer matrix, interfacial interactions can be divided according to their nature, but the most important are interactions based on intermolecular forces, for example, hydrogen bonds and stronger covalent bonds. At present, numerous routes aimed at improving interactions between matrix and filler have been developed.

Because of the richness of potential innovations and future developments, the Editors are pleased to launch this Special Issue and invite researchers to contribute their original research papers and reviews associated with the “Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites”.

Selected example topics include:

  • Innovations in the manufacturing of polymer composites;
  • Enhancement of interfacial interactions in polymer composites;
  • Reactive processing and compatibilization of polymer composites;
  • Structure–property relationships in polymer composites;
  • Modifications of fillers applied in polymer composites.

Dr. Aleksander Hejna
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. Journal of Composites Science 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 1800 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
  • Nanocomposites
  • Interfacial adhesion
  • Structure–property relationships
  • Filler modification
  • Polymer modification
  • Compatibilization
  • Reactive processing
  • Mechanical properties
  • Morphology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3043 KiB  
Article
Use of Pressure in Rotational Molding to Reduce Cycle Times: Comparison of the Thermomechanical Behavior of Rotomolded Reed/Polyethylene Composites
by Zaida Ortega, Luis Suárez, Jake Kelly-Walley, Paul R. Hanna, Mark McCourt and Bronagh Millar
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8010017 - 04 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1665
Abstract
Rotational molding advantages include the production of a hollow part with no welding lines, either of small or big sizes, with no internal stresses and good surface details. However, the process is limited by the long cycle times, and its related high energy [...] Read more.
Rotational molding advantages include the production of a hollow part with no welding lines, either of small or big sizes, with no internal stresses and good surface details. However, the process is limited by the long cycle times, and its related high energy consumption. Different strategies can be followed to reduce such energy use. This work assesses the use of pressure inside the molds during the densification and cooling stages, finding reductions in overall cycle time of approximately 20%, because of the reduction in the heating time required but also to the increased cooling rate. The influence of such an approach on the production of composites with reed fibers has also been assessed, finding a similar trend towards cycle time reductions. The rotomolded samples’ thermomechanical and rheological behavior were determined, finding that viscosity was not affected due to the incorporation of air during the moldings; besides, the homogeneity of the composites increased due to the mold pressurization. The parts obtained show good aesthetics and good thermomechanical behavior along the entire temperature range studied, and particularly for 10% composites; higher fiber ratios should be prepared via melt compounding. Therefore, the mold pressurization allows us to reduce both oven and cooling times, which can be translated into an increase in productivity and a decrease in energy consumption, which are undeniably related to the increase in the products’ sustainability and cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites)
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15 pages, 8587 KiB  
Article
Influence of Chemical Pretreatment on the Mechanical, Chemical, and Interfacial Properties of 3D-Printed, Rice-Husk-Fiber-Reinforced Composites
by Athira Nair Surendran, Sreesha Malayil, Jagannadh Satyavolu and Kunal Kate
J. Compos. Sci. 2023, 7(9), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs7090357 - 25 Aug 2023
Viewed by 892
Abstract
This article explores using biomass, namely rice husks, as a reinforcement material in thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) composites. Rice husks were subjected to three chemical pretreatments: single-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis, first-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by a second-stage methanesulfonic acid (MSA) treatment, and first-stage [...] Read more.
This article explores using biomass, namely rice husks, as a reinforcement material in thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) composites. Rice husks were subjected to three chemical pretreatments: single-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis, first-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by a second-stage methanesulfonic acid (MSA) treatment, and first-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by a second-stage sodium hydroxide alkali treatment. We studied the effects of these treatments on the rheological, thermal, interfacial, and mechanical properties of composites. The fibers were mixed with polymers at high shear rates and temperatures, and 3D-printed filaments were produced using a desktop 3D printer. The printed parts were analyzed using tensile tests, torque and viscosity measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis to obtain their mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties. SEM imaging was performed to understand the fiber–polymer interface and how it affects the other properties. The results showed that first-stage sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by a second-stage pretreatment of the fibers with MSA showed better fiber–polymer adhesion and a 20.4% increase in stress at 5% strain, a 30% increase in stress at 50% strain, and a 22.6% increase in the elastic modulus as compared to untreated rice husk composites. These findings indicate that readily available and inexpensive rice husks have significant potential for use in natural fiber-reinforced composites when pretreated using dilute sulfuric acid followed by methane sulfonic acid hydrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites)
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19 pages, 4202 KiB  
Article
Processing of 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl Methacrylate (TMSPM) Functionalized Barium Titanate/Photopolymer Composites: Functionalization and Process Parameter Investigation
by Ajmal Zarinwall, Rytis Mitkus, Axel Marth, Viktor Maurer, Michael Sinapius and Georg Garnweitner
J. Compos. Sci. 2023, 7(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs7020047 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2113
Abstract
To improve the performance of lead-free piezoelectric composites, the functionalization of the filler particles has been suggested as a successful strategy in several recent reports. The details of the functionalization process, however, are not clear, nor is its influence on the dielectric properties [...] Read more.
To improve the performance of lead-free piezoelectric composites, the functionalization of the filler particles has been suggested as a successful strategy in several recent reports. The details of the functionalization process, however, are not clear, nor is its influence on the dielectric properties of the composites. This study reports a systematic investigation of the functionalization process parameters of barium titanate nanoparticles (BTONP) with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) used as a linker to an acrylate-based matrix polymer. Functionalization process temperature, time, functionalization agent ratio, solvent, and catalyst influence on the functionalization degree were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Elevated temperature and average functionalization time led to the highest functionalization degree in the form of a TMSPM monolayer on the particle surface. Three solvents, with and without catalysts, were investigated and two types of functionalized BTONP were selected for composite manufacturing. To this end, the functionalized particles were used to manufacture 10 vol.% BTONP/photopolymer UV light-curable composite suspensions. After solidification of the suspensions by exposure to UV light, the microstructure and dielectric properties of the resulting composites were investigated. It was seen that functionalization improves the dispersion of particles, increases suspension viscosity, and decreases the curing depth and dielectric properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Enhancement of Interfacial Adhesion in Polymer Composites)
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