Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113433
Xiaowei Nong , Xinyu Zhao , Chongyang Wang , Yajun Shi , Jian Zhao , Yan Wang , Ling Xu , Dingxiang Yan , Shengfa Wang
Conductive polymer composites featuring a segregated structure exhibit exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) even at low conductive filler loadings. However, their practical adoption is hindered by complex manufacturing processes and inadequate mechanical properties resulting from poor interfacial adhesion. Inspired by the intricate microstructure of butterfly wings, we designed and fabricated a series of carbon nanotube/polylactic acid composites (CNT/PLA-G) with a segregated structure based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS), using a precision 3D-printed PLA skeleton for tailored morphology. The optimized CNT/PLA-G composites demonstrate significantly enhanced mechanical performance, with bending and tensile strengths reaching 87.5 MPa and 44.9 MPa, respectively, substantially surpassing those of lattice-structured composites. Moreover, a strong linear relationship was identified between EMI SE and internal surface area across the series of 3D-printed architectures. The G7 composite achieved an EMI SE of 45.6 dB at a low CNT content of just 2 wt%. Furthermore, with an increase in CNT loading to 5 wt%, the EMI SE reached approximately 65.0 dB. This study offers an efficient and straightforward strategy for fabricating 3D-printed composites with tunable EMI shielding performance and excellent mechanical properties, suitable for advanced EMI shielding applications.
{"title":"Butterfly wing-inspired architecture makes a tunable electromagnetic shielding properties with high mechanical performance via 3D-printing","authors":"Xiaowei Nong , Xinyu Zhao , Chongyang Wang , Yajun Shi , Jian Zhao , Yan Wang , Ling Xu , Dingxiang Yan , Shengfa Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conductive polymer composites featuring a segregated structure exhibit exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) even at low conductive filler loadings. However, their practical adoption is hindered by complex manufacturing processes and inadequate mechanical properties resulting from poor interfacial adhesion. Inspired by the intricate microstructure of butterfly wings, we designed and fabricated a series of carbon nanotube/polylactic acid composites (CNT/PLA-G) with a segregated structure based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS), using a precision 3D-printed PLA skeleton for tailored morphology. The optimized CNT/PLA-G composites demonstrate significantly enhanced mechanical performance, with bending and tensile strengths reaching 87.5 MPa and 44.9 MPa, respectively, substantially surpassing those of lattice-structured composites. Moreover, a strong linear relationship was identified between EMI SE and internal surface area across the series of 3D-printed architectures. The G7 composite achieved an EMI SE of 45.6 dB at a low CNT content of just 2 wt%. Furthermore, with an increase in CNT loading to 5 wt%, the EMI SE reached approximately 65.0 dB. This study offers an efficient and straightforward strategy for fabricating 3D-printed composites with tunable EMI shielding performance and excellent mechanical properties, suitable for advanced EMI shielding applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113433"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146045236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113441
Xiaoyuan Zhang , Yuchen Gu , Tiantian Xiang , Fengmei Su , Yuezhan Feng , Youxin Ji , Jianzhu Ju , Chuntai Liu
Radiative cooling textiles offer a promising approach for personal thermal management, yet conventional single-layer designs often fall short in achieving effective temperature regulation. To overcome this limitation, a Janus-structured PVDF-HDPE/BN textile was prepared via functional group matching and hierarchical structural regulation. The optimized textile, fabricated with 12 wt% PVDF, exhibits outstanding spectral selectivity, with a solar reflectivity of 93.24% and an atmospheric window emissivity of 98.45%, enabling highly efficient sunlight reflection and radiative heat dissipation into outer space. Furthermore, the incorporation of high thermal conductivity h-BN into the bottom layer enhances the in-plane thermal conductivity, facilitating quickly transfer of body heat to the top PVDF radiation cooling layer and thereby enhancing the efficiency of the cooling efficiency. For the personal thermal management applications, the 12PVDF-HDPE/BN textile achieves a daytime temperature reduction of up to 7.59 °C. When applied to the building exteriors, it attains a cooling effect of 9.7 °C under outdoor conditions, with performance further strengthening under increased solar irradiance. In addition, the composite textile demonstrates excellent moisture-wicking and breathability, promoting convective heat convection and enabling more efficient body cooling efficiently. This work provides a scalable and multifunctional material strategy for next-generation radiative cooling textiles suited for both personal and architectural applications.
{"title":"Bridging the gap: A Janus structure textile with synergistic radiative cooling and heat conduction for high-efficiency thermal management","authors":"Xiaoyuan Zhang , Yuchen Gu , Tiantian Xiang , Fengmei Su , Yuezhan Feng , Youxin Ji , Jianzhu Ju , Chuntai Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Radiative cooling textiles offer a promising approach for personal thermal management, yet conventional single-layer designs often fall short in achieving effective temperature regulation. To overcome this limitation, a Janus-structured PVDF-HDPE/BN textile was prepared via functional group matching and hierarchical structural regulation. The optimized textile, fabricated with 12 wt% PVDF, exhibits outstanding spectral selectivity, with a solar reflectivity of 93.24% and an atmospheric window emissivity of 98.45%, enabling highly efficient sunlight reflection and radiative heat dissipation into outer space. Furthermore, the incorporation of high thermal conductivity h-BN into the bottom layer enhances the in-plane thermal conductivity, facilitating quickly transfer of body heat to the top PVDF radiation cooling layer and thereby enhancing the efficiency of the cooling efficiency. For the personal thermal management applications, the 12PVDF-HDPE/BN textile achieves a daytime temperature reduction of up to 7.59 °C. When applied to the building exteriors, it attains a cooling effect of 9.7 °C under outdoor conditions, with performance further strengthening under increased solar irradiance. In addition, the composite textile demonstrates excellent moisture-wicking and breathability, promoting convective heat convection and enabling more efficient body cooling efficiently. This work provides a scalable and multifunctional material strategy for next-generation radiative cooling textiles suited for both personal and architectural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113441"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113467
Jiangdu Huang , Tingting Ma , Kaijiong Guo , Zhen Meng , Jinxin Li , Dayong Fan , Huidan Lu , Yongping Liu , Sundaram Chandrasekaran
Rechargeable metal-air batteries require cost-effective, robust, and bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. Herein, we fabricated FeNi@NCNT/NC, a novel catalyst featuring bimetallic iron and nickel (Fe–Ni) nanoalloys encapsulated within a hierarchical N-doped carbon architecture of nanotubes grafted onto a carbon matrix (NC). This unique feature facilitates a synergistic cascade mechanism by creating two distinct classes of active sites. In the fully encapsulated configuration, graphitic-N sites on the nanotubes served as stable bifunctional centers. Concurrently, the Fe–Ni interaction prompted electron transfer to graphitic-N, down-shifting the Fe d-band center. By lowering the O2 activation barrier for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and weakening oxygen intermediate adsorption for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), this electronic modulation enhanced both reactions. In the partially exposed configuration, surface-exposed Ni atoms extracted electrons from Fe and the carbon network, down-shifting the Fe d-band center to optimize reaction intermediates adsorption and enhance bifunctional electrocatalytic performance. Consequently, the FeNi@NCNT/NC catalyst exhibited superior bifunctional activity (ΔE ∼0.707 V), demonstrating a positive half-wave potential of (E1/2) ∼0.848 V for ORR and a small overpotential of (η10) ∼326 mV for OER, significantly outperforming the benchmark Pt/C+RuO2. As an air cathode in rechargeable zinc-air (ZABs) and magnesium-air batteries (MABs), the FeNi@NCNT/NC catalyst achieved high power densities of ∼257.2 and ∼194.8 mW cm−2, respectively, and demonstrated remarkable long-term cycling stability. This study establishes a generalizable design principle for synthesizing high-performance, dual-configuration cascade electrocatalysts, advancing the development of viable metal-air batteries.
{"title":"Unlocking electronic synergy via site-selective confinement in bimetallic nanoalloys: Combined experimental and DFT strategy for high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts and rechargeable Zn-air and Mg-air batteries","authors":"Jiangdu Huang , Tingting Ma , Kaijiong Guo , Zhen Meng , Jinxin Li , Dayong Fan , Huidan Lu , Yongping Liu , Sundaram Chandrasekaran","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113467","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113467","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rechargeable metal-air batteries require cost-effective, robust, and bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. Herein, we fabricated FeNi@NCNT/NC, a novel catalyst featuring bimetallic iron and nickel (Fe–Ni) nanoalloys encapsulated within a hierarchical N-doped carbon architecture of nanotubes grafted onto a carbon matrix (NC). This unique feature facilitates a synergistic cascade mechanism by creating two distinct classes of active sites. In the fully encapsulated configuration, graphitic-N sites on the nanotubes served as stable bifunctional centers. Concurrently, the Fe–Ni interaction prompted electron transfer to graphitic-N, down-shifting the Fe <em>d</em>-band center. By lowering the O<sub>2</sub> activation barrier for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and weakening oxygen intermediate adsorption for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), this electronic modulation enhanced both reactions. In the partially exposed configuration, surface-exposed Ni atoms extracted electrons from Fe and the carbon network, down-shifting the Fe <em>d</em>-band center to optimize reaction intermediates adsorption and enhance bifunctional electrocatalytic performance. Consequently, the FeNi@NCNT/NC catalyst exhibited superior bifunctional activity (<em>ΔE</em> ∼0.707 V), demonstrating a positive half-wave potential of (<em>E</em><sub>1/2</sub>) ∼0.848 V for ORR and a small overpotential of (<em>η</em><sub><em>10</em></sub>) ∼326 mV for OER, significantly outperforming the benchmark Pt/C+RuO<sub>2</sub>. As an air cathode in rechargeable zinc-air (ZABs) and magnesium-air batteries (MABs), the FeNi@NCNT/NC catalyst achieved high power densities of ∼257.2 and ∼194.8 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>, respectively, and demonstrated remarkable long-term cycling stability. This study establishes a generalizable design principle for synthesizing high-performance, dual-configuration cascade electrocatalysts, advancing the development of viable metal-air batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113467"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113447
Jinbiao Zhao , Jiayu Lu , Yihao Yu , Zhien Zheng , Yutao Zhou , Zhangqi Han , Dongming Qi , Yan Zhang , Wei Wang
PU-based microfiber synthetic leather, as a new generation of high-performance leather material, not only preserves the biomimetic structural advantages of natural leather but also achieves significant enhancement in mechanical properties and elastic recovery through the synergistic combination of a three-dimensional network of ultrafine fibers and a tunable PU matrix. However, the reliance on traditional manufacturing processes involving solvent-based polyurethane (SPU) systems and chemical fiber-splitting techniques has led to severe environmental pollution, considerably hindering the sustainable development of the industry. This review systematically elaborates on the latest breakthroughs in green manufacturing technologies, including waterborne polyurethane (WPU), solvent-free polyurethane (SFPU) systems, enzymatic treatments, and physical fiber-splitting methods. It further analyzes research progress in functional modification strategies that impart multifunctional characteristics such as flame retardancy, self-healing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, antibacterial activity, and self-cleaning properties. These innovations not only expand the application prospects of PU-based microfiber synthetic leather in high-value fields such as functional apparel, smart home furnishings, automotive interiors, and electronic protection but also provide critical theoretical and technical support for promoting the green transformation of the traditional leather industry and advancing the development of next-generation bio-based functional materials.
{"title":"Advances in polyurethane (PU)-based microfiber synthetic leather: From manufacturing to applications","authors":"Jinbiao Zhao , Jiayu Lu , Yihao Yu , Zhien Zheng , Yutao Zhou , Zhangqi Han , Dongming Qi , Yan Zhang , Wei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>PU-based microfiber synthetic leather, as a new generation of high-performance leather material, not only preserves the biomimetic structural advantages of natural leather but also achieves significant enhancement in mechanical properties and elastic recovery through the synergistic combination of a three-dimensional network of ultrafine fibers and a tunable PU matrix. However, the reliance on traditional manufacturing processes involving solvent-based polyurethane (SPU) systems and chemical fiber-splitting techniques has led to severe environmental pollution, considerably hindering the sustainable development of the industry. This review systematically elaborates on the latest breakthroughs in green manufacturing technologies, including waterborne polyurethane (WPU), solvent-free polyurethane (SFPU) systems, enzymatic treatments, and physical fiber-splitting methods. It further analyzes research progress in functional modification strategies that impart multifunctional characteristics such as flame retardancy, self-healing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, antibacterial activity, and self-cleaning properties. These innovations not only expand the application prospects of PU-based microfiber synthetic leather in high-value fields such as functional apparel, smart home furnishings, automotive interiors, and electronic protection but also provide critical theoretical and technical support for promoting the green transformation of the traditional leather industry and advancing the development of next-generation bio-based functional materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113447"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146045250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113458
Yi Shao , Qianghui Xu , Junyu Yang , Maoyuan Li , Sudong Ji , Fuchao Hao , Jun Shen
Due to the importance of fiber-reinforced phenolic composites in thermal protection systems for near-space applications, this study develops a multiscale numerical framework to model the heat transfer mechanisms in these materials. The framework integrates micro-CT and FIB-SEM characterization with DLCA-based stochastic modeling and lattice Boltzmann simulations. It captures anisotropic conduction along fibers, phonon scattering within the solid phase, and Knudsen diffusion in nanoporous gases. The framework links structural parameters, such as particle size and porosity, to effective thermal conductivity. Parametric analysis reveals the dominant role of interparticle bonding in solid-phase conduction and shows how particle size and porosity modulate heat transfer. The model predicts a thermal conductivity of 0.013 W/(m·K) under ambient pressure conditions (50–150 °C), achieving significant reductions of 86 % and 63 % relative to boron- and silicon-modified phenolic matrices, respectively. This work establishes a reproducible structure–property relationship and provides a pathway for optimizing nanoscale structures to improve the thermal insulation performance of phenolic-based composites.
{"title":"Multiscale heat-transfer modeling and structural optimization of fiber-reinforced phenolic composites","authors":"Yi Shao , Qianghui Xu , Junyu Yang , Maoyuan Li , Sudong Ji , Fuchao Hao , Jun Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the importance of fiber-reinforced phenolic composites in thermal protection systems for near-space applications, this study develops a multiscale numerical framework to model the heat transfer mechanisms in these materials. The framework integrates micro-CT and FIB-SEM characterization with DLCA-based stochastic modeling and lattice Boltzmann simulations. It captures anisotropic conduction along fibers, phonon scattering within the solid phase, and Knudsen diffusion in nanoporous gases. The framework links structural parameters, such as particle size and porosity, to effective thermal conductivity. Parametric analysis reveals the dominant role of interparticle bonding in solid-phase conduction and shows how particle size and porosity modulate heat transfer. The model predicts a thermal conductivity of 0.013 W/(m·K) under ambient pressure conditions (50–150 °C), achieving significant reductions of 86 % and 63 % relative to boron- and silicon-modified phenolic matrices, respectively. This work establishes a reproducible structure–property relationship and provides a pathway for optimizing nanoscale structures to improve the thermal insulation performance of phenolic-based composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113458"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113448
Hyungil Jang , Youngho Han , Junyeong Jeong, Byungwook Youn, Doojin Lee
Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely employed in thermal energy storage systems due to their ability to store and release large amounts of latent heat during phase transitions. However, their intrinsic flammability poses significant safety challenges, particularly in high-temperature applications such as urban air mobility (UAM), aerospace, and battery systems. This review critically evaluates the fire-retardant mechanisms of both organic and inorganic PCMs, including paraffin, fatty acids, esters, hydrated salts, metal alloys, and ceramic oxides. Emphasis is placed on key flame-retardant strategies such as char-forming additives, microencapsulation, endothermic decomposition, gas-phase inhibition, and synergistic hybrid systems. A comparative analysis of thermal stability, flammability, and mechanical performance is presented for each PCM category. By identifying material-specific strengths and limitations, this review guides the development of advanced flame-retardant PCM composites tailored for use in safety-critical environments such as aerospace structures, building insulation, battery thermal management, and high-risk industrial systems.
{"title":"Fire-retardant phase-change material composites: A review of organic and inorganic systems for thermal safety","authors":"Hyungil Jang , Youngho Han , Junyeong Jeong, Byungwook Youn, Doojin Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely employed in thermal energy storage systems due to their ability to store and release large amounts of latent heat during phase transitions. However, their intrinsic flammability poses significant safety challenges, particularly in high-temperature applications such as urban air mobility (UAM), aerospace, and battery systems. This review critically evaluates the fire-retardant mechanisms of both organic and inorganic PCMs, including paraffin, fatty acids, esters, hydrated salts, metal alloys, and ceramic oxides. Emphasis is placed on key flame-retardant strategies such as char-forming additives, microencapsulation, endothermic decomposition, gas-phase inhibition, and synergistic hybrid systems. A comparative analysis of thermal stability, flammability, and mechanical performance is presented for each PCM category. By identifying material-specific strengths and limitations, this review guides the development of advanced flame-retardant PCM composites tailored for use in safety-critical environments such as aerospace structures, building insulation, battery thermal management, and high-risk industrial systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113448"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113464
Paulina Wiśniewska , Natalia A. Wójcik , Józef Haponiuk
This study presents an engineering design strategy for developing multifunctional composites from ground tire rubber (GTR) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were hybridized with conventional carbon fillers, such as carbon black (CB), graphite (G), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to tailor the balance between electrical conductivity, flexibility, and fire safety at minimal filler loadings. The incorporation of CNTs enabled the formation of continuous nanoscale conductive pathways, achieving percolation at only 3 phr, giving rise to a conductivity of 7.4 × 10−4 S cm−1. In addition, the assigned composites also revealed self-extinguishing behavior in vertical burning test and a very high elongation at break (∼600 %), much higher than the maximum value previously reported for similar composites containing equivalent amount of carbon fillers (∼330 %). Morphological and mechanical analyses provided indirect evidence that CNTs act as nanoscale bridges between dispersed GTR particles and carbon domains, establishing efficient charge transport networks while maintaining elastomeric compliance. Hybridization of CNTs with CB (CB19CNT1) or G (G19CNT1) generated synergistic boost in conductivity and simultaneously satisfied the industrial-grade flexibility. The study highlights the importance of hybrid filler engineering for optimizing structure-property relationships and offers guidelines for the design of waste-derived composites with target performance combinations. This approach offers a scalable composite engineering pathway for manufacturing sustainable, electrically conductive, flame-retardant, and highly flexible polymer materials for potential use in flexible electronics and electromagnetic interface (EMI) shielding applications.
提出了一种以轮胎磨砂橡胶（GTR）和醋酸乙烯（EVA）为原料开发多功能复合材料的工程设计策略。碳纳米管（CNTs）与传统的碳填料(如炭黑（CB）、石墨（G)和石墨烯纳米片（GNPs））杂交，以在最小的填料负荷下实现导电性、柔韧性和防火安全性之间的平衡。CNTs的掺入使得形成了连续的纳米级导电途径，仅在3phr下实现了渗透，电导率为7.4 × 10−4 S cm−1。此外，指定的复合材料在垂直燃烧测试中也显示出自熄行为和非常高的断裂伸长率（~ 600%），远远高于先前报道的含有等量碳填料的类似复合材料的最大值（~ 330%）。形态学和力学分析提供了间接证据，证明碳纳米管是分散的GTR颗粒和碳畴之间的纳米级桥梁，在保持弹性顺应性的同时建立有效的电荷传输网络。CNTs与CB （CB19CNT1）或G （G19CNT1）的杂交产生了电导率的协同提高，同时满足了工业级的灵活性。该研究强调了混合填料工程对优化结构-性能关系的重要性，并为设计具有目标性能组合的废物衍生复合材料提供了指导方针。这种方法为制造可持续、导电、阻燃和高度柔性的聚合物材料提供了一种可扩展的复合工程途径，可用于柔性电子和电磁接口（EMI）屏蔽应用。
{"title":"Engineering design of hybrid carbon nanotube networks for multifunctional waste rubber composites","authors":"Paulina Wiśniewska , Natalia A. Wójcik , Józef Haponiuk","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents an engineering design strategy for developing multifunctional composites from ground tire rubber (GTR) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were hybridized with conventional carbon fillers, such as carbon black (CB), graphite (G), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to tailor the balance between electrical conductivity, flexibility, and fire safety at minimal filler loadings. The incorporation of CNTs enabled the formation of continuous nanoscale conductive pathways, achieving percolation at only 3 phr, giving rise to a conductivity of 7.4 × 10<sup>−4</sup> S cm<sup>−1</sup>. In addition, the assigned composites also revealed self-extinguishing behavior in vertical burning test and a very high elongation at break (∼600 %), much higher than the maximum value previously reported for similar composites containing equivalent amount of carbon fillers (∼330 %). Morphological and mechanical analyses provided indirect evidence that CNTs act as nanoscale bridges between dispersed GTR particles and carbon domains, establishing efficient charge transport networks while maintaining elastomeric compliance. Hybridization of CNTs with CB (CB19CNT1) or G (G19CNT1) generated synergistic boost in conductivity and simultaneously satisfied the industrial-grade flexibility. The study highlights the importance of hybrid filler engineering for optimizing structure-property relationships and offers guidelines for the design of waste-derived composites with target performance combinations. This approach offers a scalable composite engineering pathway for manufacturing sustainable, electrically conductive, flame-retardant, and highly flexible polymer materials for potential use in flexible electronics and electromagnetic interface (EMI) shielding applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113464"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113486
Lei Yan , Jun Xiao , Dajun Huan
The growing use of thermoplastic composites in high-speed rotating components and pressure vessels has made the evaluation of fatigue performance essential. In contrast to thermosetting composites, there has been limited research on the fatigue behavior and life prediction of thermoplastic composites, particularly those manufactured by laser-assisted in-situ consolidation filament winding. The Navy Ordnance Laboratory rings (NOL rings) served as representative specimens to establish convenient methods for both experimental and numerical analysis of fatigue in these structures. Various factors, such as lubrication methods and specific manufacturing parameters, impacted the reliability of the fatigue life data, which was thoroughly examined through single-factor comparative experiments. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), tensile fatigue behavior at 75%–90% UTS, and the progression of residual stiffness and strength at 75% UTS were examined using three groups of NOL rings, while damage evolution was evaluated through micro-CT. A GM(1,1) model, optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and the data rolling (DR) mechanism, was employed in numerical fatigue life prediction for the first time. A unique two-stage phenomenological numerical model was developed, incorporating essential manufacturing factors, grounded in residual stiffness and strength theory. The results showed that experimental optimization greatly enhanced the reliability of fatigue data. Damage begins in the inner layer and exhibits a spatial distribution that varies with the cycle, along with a decline in stiffness and strength. The enhanced numerical method demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy and practical applicability, offering a dependable approach for assessing the fatigue reliability of thermoplastic composite winding components.
{"title":"Fatigue analysis of the filament-wound thermoplastic composite components under tensile–tensile loading: Experimental and numerical methods","authors":"Lei Yan , Jun Xiao , Dajun Huan","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing use of thermoplastic composites in high-speed rotating components and pressure vessels has made the evaluation of fatigue performance essential. In contrast to thermosetting composites, there has been limited research on the fatigue behavior and life prediction of thermoplastic composites, particularly those manufactured by laser-assisted in-situ consolidation filament winding. The Navy Ordnance Laboratory rings (NOL rings) served as representative specimens to establish convenient methods for both experimental and numerical analysis of fatigue in these structures. Various factors, such as lubrication methods and specific manufacturing parameters, impacted the reliability of the fatigue life data, which was thoroughly examined through single-factor comparative experiments. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), tensile fatigue behavior at 75%–90% UTS, and the progression of residual stiffness and strength at 75% UTS were examined using three groups of NOL rings, while damage evolution was evaluated through micro-CT. A GM(1,1) model, optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and the data rolling (DR) mechanism, was employed in numerical fatigue life prediction for the first time. A unique two-stage phenomenological numerical model was developed, incorporating essential manufacturing factors, grounded in residual stiffness and strength theory. The results showed that experimental optimization greatly enhanced the reliability of fatigue data. Damage begins in the inner layer and exhibits a spatial distribution that varies with the cycle, along with a decline in stiffness and strength. The enhanced numerical method demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy and practical applicability, offering a dependable approach for assessing the fatigue reliability of thermoplastic composite winding components.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113486"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113476
Razie Izadi , David Wagner , David Löpitz , Camilo Zopp , Matthias Klaerner , Alina Michel , Yeliz Albrechtsen , Onur Çoban , Welf-Guntram Drossel , Carsten Lies , Mustafa Basaran , Salim Belouettar , Ahmed Makradi
Foam-core thermoplastic composites manufactured by pultrusion offer lightweight, recyclable structural solutions but require precise control of coupled thermal and curing phenomena to ensure uniform properties. While physics-based models can capture these thermochemical interactions, their computational cost limits their use for rapid prediction and process optimisation. This study presents an integrated experimental–numerical–machine learning framework for foam-core thermoplastic pultrusion using Elium® resin. Cure kinetics are characterised by DSC and incorporated into a validated 3D multiphysics model coupling heat transfer and polymerisation. Microscopy confirms limited resin penetration into the foam surface, forming a mechanical interlocking mechanism at the skin–core interface. A large parametric simulation campaign is used to train machine-learning surrogate models (neural networks, random forests, and gradient boosting), achieving and enabling millisecond-level predictions with over speed-up compared to finite-element simulations. These surrogates are employed for rapid prediction and process optimisation to identify operating windows that balance throughput, thermal control, energy efficiency, and complete curing.
{"title":"Machine learning-enhanced modelling and experimental analysis of foam-core thermoplastic composites produced via pultrusion","authors":"Razie Izadi , David Wagner , David Löpitz , Camilo Zopp , Matthias Klaerner , Alina Michel , Yeliz Albrechtsen , Onur Çoban , Welf-Guntram Drossel , Carsten Lies , Mustafa Basaran , Salim Belouettar , Ahmed Makradi","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foam-core thermoplastic composites manufactured by pultrusion offer lightweight, recyclable structural solutions but require precise control of coupled thermal and curing phenomena to ensure uniform properties. While physics-based models can capture these thermochemical interactions, their computational cost limits their use for rapid prediction and process optimisation. This study presents an integrated experimental–numerical–machine learning framework for foam-core thermoplastic pultrusion using Elium® resin. Cure kinetics are characterised by DSC and incorporated into a validated 3D multiphysics model coupling heat transfer and polymerisation. Microscopy confirms limited resin penetration into the foam surface, forming a mechanical interlocking mechanism at the skin–core interface. A large parametric simulation campaign is used to train machine-learning surrogate models (neural networks, random forests, and gradient boosting), achieving <span><math><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><mo>></mo><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>998</mn></mrow></math></span> and enabling millisecond-level predictions with over <span><math><mrow><mn>1</mn><msup><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> speed-up compared to finite-element simulations. These surrogates are employed for rapid prediction and process optimisation to identify operating windows that balance throughput, thermal control, energy efficiency, and complete curing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113476"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113450
Rui Zhu , Lihong Kang , Ryan Yao , Jingqi Wu , Jie Zhang
Combining ultrahigh sensitivity with a wide operating window in flexible tactile composites remains challenging. Conventional strategies rely on complex chemistries and multi-material stacks to impose stiffness gradients, introducing sharp interfaces and hindering scalable processing. Here, we report textile-derived stiffness-gradient piezoresistive elastomeric composites in which the effective elastic modulus (Eeff) and response are programmed purely through surface architecture within a single polymer matrix. Three-dimensional convex–concave multi-level microstructures (MMSs), replicated from woven fabrics onto PEDOT:PSS-coated PDMS, generate a continuous tri-stage stiffness gradient from compliant convex peaks to rigid concave line bundles, tuning local Eeff over ∼102–105 Pa via geometric transitions rather than discrete material boundaries. The resulting composites function as flexible tactile sensors with three-segment pressure sensitivities, including an ultralow detection limit of 1.82 Pa and an ultrahigh sensitivity of 23.38 kPa−1 at pressure <100Pa, while maintaining low-noise responses up to 1000 Pa, a response time of 10 ms and stable operation over 10,000 cycles. Finite element analyses (FEA) quantify the evolution of local Eeff, contact area and strain under compression, revealing that staged stiffness evolution governs the measured multi-segment piezoresistive response. This mechanics-based framework yields design maps linking textile-derived surface architecture, effective stiffness and resistance change, providing guidelines for modulus-programmable piezoresistive composites without altering bulk composition. Demonstrations in cardiovascular pulse monitoring and non-uniform joint pressure mapping highlight the potential of this textile-templated MMS concept as a scalable route to smart skins and human–machine interfaces in composite systems.
{"title":"Textile-derived stiffness-gradient piezoresistive elastomeric composites for modulus-programmable wearable sensors","authors":"Rui Zhu , Lihong Kang , Ryan Yao , Jingqi Wu , Jie Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compositesb.2026.113450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Combining ultrahigh sensitivity with a wide operating window in flexible tactile composites remains challenging. Conventional strategies rely on complex chemistries and multi-material stacks to impose stiffness gradients, introducing sharp interfaces and hindering scalable processing. Here, we report textile-derived stiffness-gradient piezoresistive elastomeric composites in which the effective elastic modulus (<em>E</em><sub>eff</sub>) and response are programmed purely through surface architecture within a single polymer matrix. Three-dimensional convex–concave multi-level microstructures (MMSs), replicated from woven fabrics onto PEDOT:PSS-coated PDMS, generate a continuous tri-stage stiffness gradient from compliant convex peaks to rigid concave line bundles, tuning local <em>E</em><sub>eff</sub> over ∼10<sup>2</sup>–10<sup>5</sup> Pa via geometric transitions rather than discrete material boundaries. The resulting composites function as flexible tactile sensors with three-segment pressure sensitivities, including an ultralow detection limit of 1.82 Pa and an ultrahigh sensitivity of 23.38 kPa<sup>−1</sup> at pressure <100Pa, while maintaining low-noise responses up to 1000 Pa, a response time of 10 ms and stable operation over 10,000 cycles. Finite element analyses (FEA) quantify the evolution of local <em>E</em><sub>eff</sub>, contact area and strain under compression, revealing that staged stiffness evolution governs the measured multi-segment piezoresistive response. This mechanics-based framework yields design maps linking textile-derived surface architecture, effective stiffness and resistance change, providing guidelines for modulus-programmable piezoresistive composites without altering bulk composition. Demonstrations in cardiovascular pulse monitoring and non-uniform joint pressure mapping highlight the potential of this textile-templated MMS concept as a scalable route to smart skins and human–machine interfaces in composite systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10660,"journal":{"name":"Composites Part B: Engineering","volume":"314 ","pages":"Article 113450"},"PeriodicalIF":14.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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