Polymers Webinar | Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials
Polymers Webinar | Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials
Part of the MDPI Polymers Webinar series
11 May 2026
advanced flame retardants, flame-resistant polymers, bio-based additives, multifunctional materials, fire material behaviours, flame-retardant mechanisms, fire simulation, molecular dynamics
Welcome from the Chairs
5th Polymers Webinar
Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to this webinar on Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials. It is a pleasure to bring together researchers and practitioners from across disciplines to share insights aligned with the vision of our Special Issue.
Fire safety remains a critical challenge in modern engineering, particularly as materials are increasingly required to perform in complex and high-risk environments. Recent progress in advanced flame retardants, flame-resistant polymers, and bio-based additives is opening new pathways to simultaneously enhance fire performance, reduce toxic emissions, and maintain structural integrity. At the same time, the emergence of multifunctional materials is enabling integrated solutions that go beyond traditional fire protection strategies.
This webinar highlights cutting-edge developments spanning experimental and numerical approaches. Topics include fundamental flame-retardant mechanisms, fire material behaviours under extreme conditions, and the application of fire simulation and molecular dynamics to better understand and predict material response. These advances are essential for bridging the gap between fundamental science and real-world engineering applications.
Our aim today is to provide a platform for meaningful exchange—connecting material innovation, modelling techniques, and practical fire safety solutions. We hope the discussions will stimulate new ideas, foster collaborations, and contribute to the continued evolution of flame-retardant technologies.
Thank you for joining us, and I look forward to an engaging and insightful session.
Date: 11 May 2026
Time: 09:00 am CEST | 3:00 pm CST (Asia) | 5:00 pm AEST
Webinar ID: 863 9889 0384
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Australia
Presentation Title: Novel polymer applications of lignin
Dr. Ao Li is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. His research spans flame retardants, polymers, sustainable and smart materials, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). His work bridges advanced computational modelling with practical engineering applications, driving energy safety and sustainability innovations. With extensive publications in fire safety engineering and materials science, he aims to develop next-generation fire-resistant, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable technologies.
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Australia
Dr. Bo Lin is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UNSW Sydney, Australia, working in the field of flame-retardant polymeric materials and fire-safe functional coatings. Her research interests include flame-retardant nanomaterials, multifunctional surface treatments, antibacterial and fire-safe materials, and sustainable material design. She has contributed to a number of publications in fire safety and materials science and is currently serving as a Guest Editor for the Polymers Special Issue “Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials”.
Invited Speakers
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Australia
Recent Advances in Molecular Dynamics Characterisation of Polymeric Flame Retardant Systems
Dr. Ivan Miguel De Cachinho Cordeiro is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. His research focuses on fire safety engineering and computational material science, with particular expertise in reactive molecular dynamics, CFD modelling, polymer pyrolysis, and flame-retardant design. His work aims to uncover the atomistic mechanisms governing thermal decomposition, oxidation, and char formation in advanced polymers and nanocomposites, while linking these insights to larger-scale fire behaviour and material performance. Dr. Cordeiro has published extensively in the fields of fire science, advanced materials, and multiscale modelling, contributing to the development of sustainable and more resilient materials.
State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, China.
Advancements and Future Perspectives of Organic Phosphorus Chemistry for Fire-Safe Polymeric Materials
Dr. Kumar Selvaraj obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry in 2016 from Thiruvalluvar University, Serkadu, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the same university in 2021. His first postdoctoral fellowship was in 2022 at the Department of Chemical Engineering, SSN College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He then pursued his second postdoctoral fellowship in 2023 at the Polymer Processing and Polymer Nanomaterials Research Unit, Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Later in 2023, he joined the Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química (INTEC), CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina, for his third postdoctoral fellowship. Currently, in 2026, he is working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, Anhui, China. His research expertise includes thermosetting resins from renewable sources, polymer nanocomposites for high-performance applications, the design and synthesis of new organic monomers and polymers, preparation of nanofillers, polymer blends, polymer incorporation, polymer reinforcement, and applications in dielectric materials, supercapacitors, corrosion resistance, fuel cells, and environmental remediation. He has published 21 research articles with an h-index of 11 and an i10-index of 9 in internationally peer-reviewed journals. Through talent and sustained dedication, he has achieved exceptional success and prolific accomplishments in these fields.
Department of Building Environmental and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong S.A.R
Prof. Yuen is currently appointed as an Assistant Professor, Presidential Young Scholar at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong SAR, and an Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Sydney, Australia. He is also a corporate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers (HKIE) Fire Discipline. He contributes to the fabrication of novel, bio-inspired and multifunctional nano-architectured composite materials. His expertise lies in formulating a systematic, state-of-the-art fire assessment platform to effectively and physically describe the flaming and degradation processes, thermal/electrical conductivities, charring and self-extinction behaviours of advanced materials.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. The number of participants to the live session is limited but the recording will be made available on Sciforum shortly afterwards. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Programme
| Speaker | Presentation | Time (CEST) | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ao Li | Chair Introduction | 9:00 – 9:10 am | 5:00 – 5:10 pm |
| Dr. Ivan Miguel De Cachinho Cordeiro | Recent Advances in Molecular Dynamics Characterisation of Polymeric Flame Retardant Systems | 9:10 – 9:30 am | 5:10 – 5:30 pm |
| Dr. Selvaraj Kumar | Advancements and Future Perspectives of Organic Phosphorus Chemistry for Fire-Safe Polymeric Materials | 9:30 – 9:50 am | 5:30 – 5:50 pm |
| Prof. Anthony Chun Yin Yuen | Presentation Title | 9:50 – 10:10 am | 5:50 – 6:10 pm |
| Q&A | 10:10 – 10:25 am | 6:10 – 6:25 pm | |
| Dr. Bo Lin | Closing of Webinar | 10:25 – 10:30 am | 6:25 – 6:30 pm |
Relevant Special Issue
"Recent Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials"
Special Issues Editors: Dr. Ao Li, Dr. Anthony Chun Yin Yuen and Dr. Bo Lin
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
