Development and Modification of New or Recycled Materials and Technological Processes toward Sustainable Development (Second Volume)

Dear Colleagues,

There is currently an intensive discussion ongoing regarding the relationship between sustainable development and circular economy. Even if the relationships between these concepts are not explicitly expressed, it is clear that their common goal is a sustainable society. The basis of this understanding is that natural resources provide input for the production and consumption of materials and products, and at the same time, after the end of their useful life, they serve as a stock of materials in the form of waste. This results in clear dependence on a circular economy, sustainable development, and the quality of the environment.

Important areas related to this are advanced material research as well as technological development, the basis of which is the development and production of sustainable products and processes. The development, modification, and recycling of materials are an integral part of circular economy and sustainability strategies. The importance is also evident in the increasing adoption of these terms in the scientific academic, industrial, and economic fields.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish original research articles in areas related to the development and modification of new as well as recycled materials and their application possibilities. At the same time, studies focused on innovative technological methods for the processing and recovery of industrially important metals and their alloys, non-metallic materials, and composites are also welcome. Additionally, innovative procedures for testing, increasing efficiency, and optimizing processes aim to recover materials to improve the sustainability of Earth’s resources. Research related to any area of the materials science will contribute to the improvement of the mechanical, chemical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, and thermal properties of the materials, as well as the understanding of the inter-relationship between the composition, structure, and properties of a material. Contributions that use multicriteria analysis or LCA assessment methods for comparing products and processes with a focus on environmental, technological, and economic aspects and impacts will also be greatly appreciated.

The scope encompasses scientific and engineering fields such as materials, metallurgy, chemical, mechanical, electrotechnical, environmental, biomedical, aerospace, industrial, and Earth resources. The fields of operation are not limited, and may include physical metallurgy, progressive materials, nanomaterials, progressive technologies, structure, chemical composition and properties of materials, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, biohydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, primary and secondary materials, recycling technologies, modeling and simulation, SEM, XRF, XRD, LCA assessment, eco-design, mechanics of materials, ceramics, metals and metal alloys, non-metals, composites, electromobility, batteries and accumulators, electronics, hydrogen technologies, and applications of materials in various areas.

Dr. Pavol Liptai
Prof. Dr. Jaroslav Briančin
Guest Editors

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• sustainable development
• advanced materials
• material innovations
• circular economy
• technological innovations

• Development and Modification of New or Recycled Materials and Technological Processes toward Sustainable Development in Materials (16 articles)

Title: Recent Advancements towards Sustainability in Rotomoulding
Authors: Jake Kelly Walley; Peter Martin; Zaida Ortega; Louise Pick; Mark McCourt
Affiliation: 1 Matrix Polymers, Unit 2, Compass Industrial Park, Spindus Road, Speke, Liverpool L24 1YA, UK 2 Polymer Processing Research Centre, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, Northern Ireland, UK 3 Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Edificio de Inge-nierías, Campus Universitario de Tafira Baja, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Abstract: Abstract: Rotational moulding is a unique low shear process used to manufacture hollow parts. The process is an excellent process method for batch processing, minimal waste and stress-free parts. However, the process has drawbacks such as long cycle times, gas dependency and a lim-ited palette of materials relative to other process methods. This review aimed to shed light on the current state of the art research contributing towards sustainability in rotational moulding. The scope of the review broadly assessed all areas of the process such as material development, process adaptations and development, modelling, simulation and contributions towards appli-cations carving a more sustainable society. PRISMA literature review method was adopted, finding that the majority of publications focuses on material development, specifically on the use of waste, fillers, fibres and composites as a way to improve sustainability. Significant focus on bio- composites and natural fibres highlighted the strong research interest, while recyclate studies appeared less explored to date. Other research paths are process modification, modelling and simulation, motivated to increase energy efficiency, reduction in scrap and attempts to reduce cycle time with models. An emerging research interest in rotational moulding is the contribution towards the hydrogen economy, particularly Type IV hydrogen vessels. Keywords: rotomoulding, sustainability, sustainable development, polyethylene, recycling, re-cyclate, natural fibres, biopolymers, simulation, modelling, process development