Dear Colleagues,

As you know, one of the key objects in modern technologies are composite materials or simply composites, which are used in various fields of science and technology - from the food industry to aviation, from medicine to the construction of various buildings, from agriculture to radio electronics. According to the definition adopted in Materials Science, in the general case, a composite is a poly-component material of natural or anthropogenic origin, consisting of at least two or more components with significantly different physical and chemical characteristics, which, when combined within a single system (material), lead to the appearance this material has any new properties that are different from those inherent in its original individual components. In this case, however, not all properties are meant, but only those that are not the result of their simple addition or superposition. Each of these components can be classified into one of two categories, namely matrix/matrices and filler/fillers, the first of which perform the function of a binder, while the second act as a so-called reinforcement (strengthening the structure of the material as a result of the formation of various bonds (chemical, intermolecular, etc.) with the matrix/matrices). A special case of composites are the so-called hybrid materials – materials obtained through the interaction of chemically different constituents (components), most often, organic and inorganic, forming a certain crystalline and/or spatial structure that differs from the structures of the original reagents, but, as a rule, retains certain motifs and functions original structures to one degree or another.

The following main types of composites can be distinguished by the nature of the matrix, namely, polymer, metal, and ceramic. Among them, the most diverse and common are polymer composites, which in turn are divided into six classes. This is fiberglass (filler – glass fibers), carbon plastics (filler – carbon fibers), boron plastics (filler – boron fibers embedded in a thermosetting polymer matrix), organoplastics (filler – organic, synthetic and/or natural fibers), textolites (layered plastics containing as a fabric filler from various fibers) and polymers filled with powders of various solid (usually inorganic) substances. And although such a systematics, in our opinion, is very “amorphous” and not clearly structured, nevertheless, it quite clearly follows from it that the set of composites named in it, is the largest both in number and variety of materials related to it. Many polymer composites are superior to traditional materials and alloys in terms of their physical and mechanical properties and at the same time are much lighter than them. That is why, the use of such composites usually makes it possible to reduce the weight of the construction while maintaining or even improving its mechanical characteristics. For example, their use in the manufacture of aircraft in some cases makes it possible to reduce the weight of these devices by almost a third compared to the weight of similar constructions in which all parts are made of metals. Many different substances, both natural and synthetic, have been tested as fillers for a long time. Appearance in the 21st century new, previously unknown direction in Materials Science, namely nanoscience/nanotechnology, gave a new impetus to the creation and use of polymer composites based on the achievements of this specific field. Against this background, it is worth highlighting matrix systems where micro- or nanoparticles of metal-containing chemicals (elemental metals, metal complexes, organometallic compounds, etc.) are used as a filler – Metal-Containing Matrix Polymer Composites. Currently, there are a number of works that testify to the very significant prospects for the use of such objects, but in general, their potential capabilities are clearly insufficiently disclosed. This Special Issue of Materials is designed to at least to some extent contribute to the development of this very direction.

By taking into account the all aforesaid, the given Special Issue of Materials is supposed to include mainly original full articles and brief reports, one way or another related to the above type of polymer composites with a wide variety of polymer matrices and metal-containing substances as fillers. Review articles may also be submitted for publication in this Special Issue (including author's reviews, in which the emphasis is mainly on the authors' own work).

Prof. Dr. Oleg Mikhailov
Guest Editor

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• Polymer composite
• polymer matrix
• filler
• micro-particles
• nano-particles
• elemental metal
• metal complex
• organometallic compound