The 2026 National Symposium on Polymer Materials Science and Engineering was recently held in Kaifeng, Henan Province, China. Professor Tairong Kuang from the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University of Technology delivered an invited presentation at the Polymer Feng Xinde Polymer Prize Session held during the symposium. His presentation was entitled Synergistic Structural and Interfacial Design for Multifunctional Integration in Polymer Composites. Postdoctoral researcher Yutong Ding and doctoral students Hongxin Guo, Qisheng Shao, and Tianyu Wei also attended the symposium.

Addressing the challenge of achieving multiple desirable properties simultaneously in functional polymer composites, Professor Kuang presented the group’s recent advances in structural design, interfacial control, and multifunctional integration. Drawing on representative studies, he discussed how component distribution, phase morphology, and interfacial interactions influence material properties. He also shared strategies for improving overall material performance through synergistic structural and interfacial design, offering insights into the design and fabrication of functional polymer composites.

Figure 1. Professor Tairong Kuang delivering his invited presentation.

A research paper published by the group in Polymer in 2025 received a Best Paper Nomination Award as part of the Feng Xinde Polymer Prize.  Established to recognize outstanding research papers published by Chinese scholars in Polymer, the Feng Xinde Polymer Prize includes both the Best Paper Award and Best Paper Nomination Awards. This distinction reflects the academic recognition of the group’s research contributions.

Figure 2. Award plaque for the Feng Xinde Polymer Prize Best Paper Nomination Award.

The symposium provided an opportunity for the group to present its research, learn about recent advances in the field, and strengthen exchanges with fellow researchers. It also offered the participating postdoctoral researcher and doctoral students a valuable opportunity to broaden their academic perspectives and refine their research ideas. The group will continue to investigate structural design and property control in functional polymer composites, drawing on academic exchange to advance its research and support the development of young researchers.