The International Journal for the Science and Technology of Polymers

Polymer is an interdisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing innovative and significant advances in Polymer Physics, Chemistry and Technology. We welcome submissions on polymer hybrids, nanocomposites, characterisation and self-assembly. Polymer also publishes work on the technological application of polymers in energy and optoelectronics.

The main scope is covered but not limited to the following core areas:

Polymer Materials

    Nanocomposites and hybrid nanomaterials
    Polymer blends, films, fibres, networks and porous materials

Physical Characterization

    Characterisation, modelling and simulation* of molecular and materials properties in bulk, solution, and thin films

Polymer Engineering

    Advanced multiscale processing methods

Polymer Synthesis, Modification and Self-assembly

    Including designer polymer architectures, mechanisms and kinetics, and supramolecular polymerization

Technological Applications

    Polymers for energy generation and storage
    Polymer membranes for separation technology
    Polymers for opto- and microelectronics

*Theory and simulation papers should include or reference previously published experimental results.

Special Issue on International Discussion Meeting on Polymer Crystallization 2024
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

This issue will gather contributions dealing with semi-crystalline polymers and polymer crystallization across wide research fields.

Guest editors:

Alejandro J. Müller, 
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastián, Spain
Email: Alejandrojesus.muller@ehu.es

Go Matsuba, 
Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan
Email: gmatsuba@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp

Akihiko Toda, 
Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
Email: atoda@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Special issue information:

This special issue is dedicated to the International Discussion Meeting on Polymer Crystallization 2024 at Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan.

This issue will gather contributions dealing with semi-crystalline polymers and polymer crystallization across wide research fields.

Manuscript submission information:

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) will be available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of "VSI: IDMPC2024" when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/polymer

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Submission deadline: 31-Dec-2024

This is an invited-only special issue.

Keywords:

Crystallization kinetics in semi-crystalline polymers, polymer crystalline structure, application of crystalline polymers, computer simulation, observation with special techniques.

Special Issue on Science and Technology of Polymer Brushes
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

The aim of this POLYMER special issue is to provide information concerning various aspects of polymer brushes including synthesis and processing, characterization, modeling of properties as well as cutting edge applications.

Guest editors:

Michele Laus, University Piemonte Orientale, Alessandria, Italy
Email: Michele.laus@uniupo.it

Edmondo M. Benetti, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Email: Edmondo.benetti@unipd.it

Special issue information:

The development of surfaces with well-designed properties represents a significant challenge for chemists and physicists. In this context, polymer brushes, which consist of thin organic layers of polymers tethered by one end to a substrate, represent an extremely versatile tool in surface engineering. With great progress in living/controlled, or even precision, polymerization methods, organic reactions, and supramolecular strategies, excellent control over the composition, architecture, and length of tethered polymer chains can be achieved leading to an unprecedented variety of structures including bioinspired and responsive polymer brushes. Control of wetting properties, tuning of interaction with biological media, colloidal stabilization, and resistance to fouling are examples of successful application of polymer brushes. In addition, surfaces, and interfaces responsive to the surrounding environment are essential in the design of devices, from electronics to medicine.

The aim of this POLYMER special issue is to provide information concerning various aspects of polymer brushes including synthesis and processing, characterization, modeling of properties as well as cutting edge applications.

Manuscript submission information:

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) will be available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of "VSI: Polymer Brushes" when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/polymer

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Submission deadline: 31-Dec-2024

This is an invited-only special issue.

Keywords:

Polymer brush, grafting to, grafting from, ultrathin layer

Special Issue on Porous Polymers 2024
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Porous polymer research presently involves a broad spectrum of porous architectures, synthesis chemistries, processing technologies, surface functionalizations, and applications.

Guest editors:

Michael S. Silverstein, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Neil R. Cameron, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Ruilan Guo, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
Ulrich Wiesner, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Special issue information:

The considerable potential for societal impact that is characteristic of porous polymers is clear from the motivations driving the research that include photocatalysis, carbon capture, water capture, contaminant sorption, ultrafiltration, tissue engineering, and even energy harvesting. The advantages of hierarchical porous structures are driving innovative synthesis strategies that can involve molecular design for microporosity, self-assembly for mesoporosity, and/ or templating for macroporosity. Porous polymer research presently involves a broad spectrum of porous architectures, synthesis chemistries, processing technologies, surface functionalizations, and applications.

Manuscript submission information:

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) will be available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of "VSI: Porous Polymers 2024" when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/polymer

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Submission deadline: 31-Dec-2024

This is an invited-only special issue.

Keywords:

Macroporosity, mesoporosity, microporosity, polymers, adsorption, membranes, scaffolds

Special Issue on New Trends in Polymer Networks and Gels
Submission Date: 2025-01-15

The Special Issue will focus on novel trends in the design and development of polymer networks and gels.

Guest editors:

Ferenc Horkay, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Email: horkayf@mail.nih.gov

Jack F. Douglas, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Email: jack.douglas@nist.gov

Special issue information:

The Special Issue will focus on novel trends in the design and development of polymer networks and gels. Leading researchers in the field will cover topics dealing with the physical and chemical properties of cross-linked polymers, network theories (thermodynamics, phase diagram, molecular interactions, ionic effects, etc.), computational and theoretical modeling (e.g., molecular dynamics simulation), physical cross-linking/network formation, experimental techniques (small angle scattering methods, light scattering, rheology, etc.), and applications (controlled release, scaffolds for tissue engineering, sensors, 3-D printing, etc.). The physical, physical-chemical properties of synthetic, biopolymer and polyelectrolyte gels will be discussed. Carefully selected examples of various applications will be presented.

Manuscript submission information:

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) will be available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of "VSI: Polymer Networks" when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/polymer

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Submission deadline: 15-Jan-2025

This is an invited-only special issue.

Keywords:

Polymer network, biopolymer gel, swelling, mechanical properties, phase transition, cross-linking, self-assembly, phase separation, tissue engineering, drug delivery, ion adsorption, neutron scattering, mathematical modeling and simulation