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Open research questions in Fiber-reinforced polymer composites

123 gap statements mined from Fiber-reinforced polymer composites papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,427 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The lack of understanding of the mechanical performance and damage mechanisms of hybrid composite tubes with mixed stacking sequences. The need to investigate the effect of stacking sequence on mechanical behavior and damage evolution.

    Investigation of the Mechanical Performance and Damage Mechanisms of Hybrid Composite Tubes with Mixed Stacking Sequences · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of research on the electrical properties of epoxy-glass composites modified with carbonisate. The need for a comprehensive understanding of the dielectric properties of these composites.

    Effect of Waste MDF-Derived Carbonisate Morphology on the Dielectric Stability of Epoxy-Based Composites · 2026 · DOI

  • Lack of a comprehensive review of composite-forming technologies for new energy-vehicle battery packs. Limited understanding of the formation mechanisms and control strategies of typical defects. Need for a framework to guide material-process selection and quality control.

    Forming Technologies, Defect Control, and Digital Manufacturing of Polymer Composite Battery-Pack Structures for New Energy Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Conventional sizing systems provide only partial surface coverage and may limit interfacial bonding. Alternative approaches are needed to improve interfacial bonding and achieve optimal mechanical performance in glass fiber-reinforced plastics.

    Adhesion-Promoting Properties of Plasma Polymer Layers in Epoxy Resin for Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastics · 2026 · DOI

  • Preserving fiber quality during material recovery and reuse remains a significant challenge. Establishing economically viable reuse of CFRP composites is a major challenge.

    Editorial for the Special Issue on Carbon Fiber Composites, 4th Edition · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to improve the adhesion between the fiber and matrix in AFRPs.

    Aramid Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (AFRPs) in Aerospace: A Review of Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of suitable resin systems for cryo-compressed hydrogen storage vessels. The need for a resin system with favorable processability and thermosetting behavior. The requirement for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behavior of CFRP under cryogenic conditions.

    Investigation of Cryogenic Mechanical Performance of Epoxy Resin and Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Cryo-Compressed Hydrogen Storage Onboard Gas Vessels · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to investigate the effects of different surface modification techniques on the mechanical properties of CFRPs. The development of new surface modification techniques to enhance the interfacial interactions and adhesion of CFRPs is a potential future research direction.

    Interfacial Interlocking of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Short Review · 2025 · DOI

  • The coupled manufacturing behaviour of CFRP/rubber composite mandrels remains insufficiently understood, particularly under the simultaneous effects of rubber flow, mold contact, and prepreg curing.

    Deformation mechanism and residual stress evolution of CFRP/rubber composite mandrels during thermo-chemo-mechanical manufacturing process · 2026 · DOI

  • Interlaminar voids in prepreg laminates originate from air trapped during layup, yet the role of prepreg surface morphology in governing air entrapment and removal remains unclear.

    Role of prepreg surface valleys in interlaminar air entrapment and void evolution · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior work has examined isolated surface treatments, and while the full commercial sizing, desizing, and resizing process chain has been recently explored, its multiscale interfacial evolution integrating molecular dynamics simulations remains unexplored for a single fiber batch.

    Multiscale interfacial evolution of CF/PA6 composites from commercial epoxy sizing to polyurethane resizing · 2026 · DOI

  • While high amounts of flow and the presence of weld lines have been identified as the major performance detractors, the practical implications of these finding on how charges should be designed have not yet been investigated in detail.

    Charge design for carbon fibre sheet moulding compounds—Impact on morphology and mechanical performance · 2025 · DOI

  • The main novelty of the current research is both the microstructural and chemical assessment of PBT/GF composites in different fiber contents, and this aspect is rather insufficiently studied in the literature.

    Microstructural and Chemical Analysis of PBT/Glass Fiber Composites: Influence of Fiber Content and Manufacturing on Composite Performance · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the mechanical performance and structural characteristics of these fibers have not been fully reported.

    Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber · 2024 · DOI

  • The need for a comprehensive understanding of the degradation mechanisms of Tyranno fibers. The lack of quantitative insight into the nucleation and growth mechanisms of β-SiC crystallites.

    Thermal, structural, and mechanical degradation of Tyranno fibers: an experimental and kinetic modeling study · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of alternative applications for coal, particularly in the production of advanced carbon materials. The need to reduce dependence on imported petroleum-derived precursors for carbon fiber production.

    ZONGULDAK COAL AS A PRECURSOR FOR CARBON FIBER PRODUCTION · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can investigate the effects of femtosecond laser surface treatment on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). The development of new surface modification techniques for CFRPs can be informed by the study's findings.

    Effect of femtosecond laser surface treatment on the interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber and epoxy resin · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective methods for enhancing interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and an epoxy matrix. The need for a comprehensive understanding of the individual and combined effects of surface sizing and laser treatment on interfacial shear strength.

    Effect of femtosecond laser surface treatment on the interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber and epoxy resin · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to upscale the laboratory process to industrial-scale operations. The development of more efficient methods for the recycling of HDPE and carbon fiber waste is necessary. The investigation of the long-term properties and durability of the developed composites is required.

    Development and Characterization of Thermoplastic Composites Based on Recycled HDPE from Railway Sleepers’ Fastening Bushes and Scraped Fractions from Carbon Fiber Waste Upcycling · 2026 · DOI

  • The recycling of concrete and polymeric fractions remains less developed due to economic and regulatory constraints. There is a need for improved circular strategies for the management of end-of-life infrastructure components. The development of sustainable materials from waste is a significant research gap.

    Development and Characterization of Thermoplastic Composites Based on Recycled HDPE from Railway Sleepers’ Fastening Bushes and Scraped Fractions from Carbon Fiber Waste Upcycling · 2026 · DOI

  • Composites that are three times longer than the fabricator are manufactured to demonstrate that dimensions are not limited by the size of the processing equipment.

    Rapid out-of-oven lamination (ROL) for energy-efficient manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced composites · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the effects of different stacking sequences on the mechanical behavior of hybrid composite tubes, - Examining the damage mechanisms of hybrid composite tubes under various loading conditions, - Developing analytical models to predict the damage initiation and progression in hybrid composite…

    Investigation of the Mechanical Performance and Damage Mechanisms of Hybrid Composite Tubes with Mixed Stacking Sequences · 2026 · DOI

  • Developing multifunctional AFRP, - Improving adhesion, - Enhancing durability under extreme conditions, - Implementing targeted interventions at the fiber-matrix interface, - Exploring novel…

    Aramid Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (AFRPs) in Aerospace: A Review of Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating other thermoplastic systems to study the optimum content of continuous fiber reinforcement. Studying the effect of fiber content on the interlaminar shear strength between the layers of the reinforced thermoplastic panels. Assessing the fiber/matrix interface bond strength with an increase in fiber content.

    Effect of High Fiber Content on Properties and Performance of CFRTP Composites · 2024 · DOI

  • Further studies on the optimization of coal tar production and processing for carbon fiber production. Investigations into the development of new carbon fiber production technologies using coal as a precursor.

    ZONGULDAK COAL AS A PRECURSOR FOR CARBON FIBER PRODUCTION · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of understanding of the mechanical performance and damage mechanisms of hybrid composite tubes with mixed stacking sequences (“Investigation of the Mechanical Performance and Damage Mechanisms of Hybrid…”, 2026); (2) The lack of research on the electrical properties of epoxy-glass composites modified with carbonisate (“Effect of Waste MDF-Derived Carbonisate Morphology on the Dielectric Stability…”, 2026); (3) Lack of a comprehensive review of composite-forming technologies for new energy-vehicle battery packs (“Forming Technologies, Defect Control, and Digital Manufacturing of Polymer…”, 2026); (4) Alternative approaches are needed to improve interfacial bonding and achieve optimal mechanical performance in glass fiber-reinforced plastics (“Adhesion-Promoting Properties of Plasma Polymer Layers in Epoxy Resin for Glass…”, 2026); (5) The coupled manufacturing behaviour of CFRP/rubber composite mandrels remains insufficiently understood, particularly under the simultaneous effects of rubber flow, mold contact, and prepreg curing (“Deformation mechanism and residual stress evolution of CFRP/rubber composite…”, 2026). 123 gap statements have been mined from Fiber-reinforced polymer composites papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,427 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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