Journal decision profile

Polymers

Materials Science · Engineering

Polymers' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.9, ranking Q1 in Biomaterials and 2 other subfields. Two-year citation average from OpenAlex data, updated August 2026.

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteSwitzerlandeISSN 2073-4360
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Bookmark this page — track observed submission-to-acceptance timing, FWCI and field-normalized citation data for this journal in one view.

Journal Metrics Score
i
Journal Metrics ScoreThe raw score is citations received in the latest complete year by works from the two previous years, divided by the number of those works. It is calculated from OpenAlex open data (CC0) and is not a percentage grade.
2026
6.9

Journal Metrics Score 2026 · 2021–2024 window citedness 5.77.

Review & acceptance time
i
Review & acceptance timeCalendar days between the received and accepted dates reported in recent PubMed records. This interval includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
PUBMED
28 daysmedian

Middle 50%: 23–41 days

100 of 100 PubMed-indexed articles · 100% coverage · 2024–2025

Polymers accepts papers a median of 28 days after submission, including peer review and revisions. That is faster than 99% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

Indicative APC
i
Indicative APCThis journal-level estimate comes from the OpenAlex source record. It is not a verified quote and may exclude taxes, waivers, society discounts, or article-type charges. Check the journal's official website before deciding.
OPENALEX · VERIFY
$3,258

Journal-level estimate only. Verify current charges, taxes, waivers, discounts, and article-type fees with the journal.

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Does your manuscript fit Polymers?

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At a glance

Journal decision profile

Each spoke is a 0–100 percentile within a comparable journal cohort—not a percentage grade or a single black-box rating.

Relative profile

Metrics ScoreThe raw 2026 Journal Metrics Score is the recent two-year citation average shown above. The radar converts it to a 0–100 cohort percentile: farther out means a higher score than more comparable journals. It is not a percentage grade.iSource outputThe raw rank compares lifetime output inside the journal’s leading-topic source set. The radar then compares that rank position across Decision Profile journals in the same primary OpenAlex field; when that field has too few profiles, it uses the broader profile set. Farther out means relatively more output, not better research quality.iTop 10% shareThe share of recent papers in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield. The radar converts that share to a 0–100 cohort percentile; it does not predict how a new paper will perform.iMedian FWCICitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected citation level for comparable papers; the radar shows its 0–100 cohort percentile.iSubmission-to-acceptanceCalendar days from the received date to the accepted date in recent PubMed records. This includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not the time to first decision and not pure peer-review time. The radar uses a 0–100 cohort percentile with shorter observed timing plotted farther out; it does not measure review quality.iOutput volumeAverage works published per year in the recent analysis window, converted to a 0–100 cohort percentile. Farther out means the journal publishes more papers; it does not mean those papers are better.i
Cost is intentionally excluded. Missing APC data is never converted to a zero-dollar fee or a fabricated cost score.

Raw values behind the shape

Always visible
Metrics Score
i
Metrics ScoreThe 2026 raw Journal Metrics Score shown above. The bar is its 0–100 percentile within the radar's comparable journal cohort; it is not a percentage score.
6.92026 · OPENALEX
Source output rank
i
Source output rankThis lifetime journal-wide output rank compares works published by the OpenAlex source with sources associated with the journal’s leading topic. More output does not mean higher quality.
#8 / 1,262LIFETIME OUTPUT
Highly cited papers
i
Highly cited papersShare of recent works in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield.
11.9%FIELD-NORMALIZED TOP 10%
Field-normalized impact
i
Field-normalized impactCitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected level for comparable work.
0.94MEDIAN FWCI
Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceReceived-to-accepted calendar days from qualified PubMed records. It includes editorial handling and author revisions; it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
28 daysIQR 23–41 DAYS
Recent output
i
Recent outputAverage works published per year across the complete analysis window. This is a volume measure, not a quality score.
4592 / yr2021–2024 AVG
Field-normalized top 10% share11.9%

2184 of 18,332 works · same type, year & subfield

Field-normalized top 1% share0.6%

114 works · same type, year & subfield

Median FWCI0.94×

Below field-year expectation

Source output rank#8

of 1,262 topic-associated OpenAlex sources by lifetime output

What does Median FWCI mean?

FWCI compares papers with the same publication year, type, and field. 1.0 is the world average; above 1.0 is above expectation. This journal's median is 0.94, so its typical recent paper runs about 6% below its field benchmark.

What does Top 10% Share mean?

11.9% of recent papers rank in the global top 10% after field normalization. This is easier to compare across specialties than raw citation totals.

Publishing pattern

Publication volume and article mix

Volume is separated from citation accumulation so newer papers are not presented as weaker simply because they are newer.

Works published by year

OpenAlex source records · 2016–2025

4442016
7702017
14392018
21372019
31702020
45022021
56392022
46562023
35712024
33982025

Recent work-type mix

18,332 OpenAlex works · 2021–2024

Article87.2%
Review12%
Editorial0.4%
Erratum0.3%
OpenAlex article is broader than “original research.” PubMed Publication Types can add case-report and clinical-study detail.
Fit signals

Topics and research coverage

OpenAlex topics show the research communities this journal serves.

Leading OpenAlex topics

2021–2024 works
biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties724
Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites652
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies645
Polymer crystallization and properties569
Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging535
Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications466
Advanced Cellulose Research Studies415
Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications390
Dental materials and restorations368
Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal345
Methodology: OpenAlex snapshot 2026-11-01. FWCI, percentile badges, topics, and type mix use 18,332 works published 2021–2024. Radar normalization is versioned in the cached profile, and no cost score is assigned without reliable APC data.

Subject Category Quartiles

Quartiles computed within each OpenAlex subfield
CategoryQuartile
BiomaterialsQ1
Automotive EngineeringQ1
Polymers and PlasticsQ1

Is Polymers a good journal?

Yes. A Q1 journal by citation data

Yes. By citation data, Polymers is a strong journal: it is Q1 in Biomaterials and 2 other subfields and ranks #152 of 1,169 Materials Science journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 14%). Polymers' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.9. Recent papers took a median of 28 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,258 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Biomaterials, Automotive Engineering, and Polymers and Plastics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

Best quartile
Q1
Biomaterials
Rank in Materials Science
#152 of 1,169
Top 14%
2026 Journal Metrics Score
6.9
Acceptance rate
Not published
By the journal or publisher
Submission to acceptance
28 days
Median, PubMed records
Open access fee (APC)
$3,258
OpenAlex, verify with the journal
Papers published in 2025
3,404
OpenAlex works

Check before you submit

  • Confirm the current article processing charge, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website; the OpenAlex figure is indicative.
  • Confirm the journal is indexed where your institution or funder requires (for example Scopus or PubMed) before you submit.

Verdict from citation data only: quartile and field rank by Journal Metrics Score (OpenAlex), publisher-reported acceptance rates, and PubMed submission and acceptance dates. See how we rank journals and how to verify indexing.

Q1
Subfield Quartile
B3
CAS Block

Ranking and source check

#152
of 1,169 Materials Science field journals
#152
among Q1 Materials Science journals

Confirm the exact title and ISSNs against the publisher homepage before a high-stakes submission decision.

Journal Details

OpenAlex Works
32,389
H-Index
231
Fully Open Access
Yes
Recent OA Works
32,389
Subject Areas
BiomaterialsAutomotive EngineeringPolymers and Plastics

Source: the current OpenAlex source record. OpenAlex works can include multiple work types. Fully Open Access is a source-level flag. Recent OA Works is summed from OpenAlex's counts_by_year series (up to the latest ten years); it is not a lifetime OA percentage. Any APC shown here is an indicative OpenAlex value—verify current charges on the journal's official website.

How to submit to Polymers

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    OpenAlex classifies Polymers' papers in subfields including Biomaterials, Automotive Engineering, and Polymers and Plastics. Read the aims and scope page and a few recent papers close to your topic before you prepare the manuscript.

  2. 2

    Follow the author guidelines

    Article types, word and figure limits, reference style, and the required statements (data availability, ethics, conflicts of interest, author contributions) are set by the journal. Prepare the cover letter and files to match them.

    Polymers homepage ↗
  3. 3

    Submit through SuSy

    MDPI journals take submissions through SuSy, MDPI's submission system, reached from the Submit button on the journal website.

    Open SuSy ↗
  4. 4

    Plan for costs

    OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,258 USD for this open-access journal. Check the current fee, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website.

  5. 5

    Know what to expect

    Recent accepted papers took a median of 28 days from submission to acceptance, including revisions (PubMed dates). Polymers does not publish an acceptance rate.

Submission system from the publisher's author information, checked 2026-10-27. Individual journals can differ, so follow the link in the journal's own author guidelines.

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Common questions about Polymers

Is Polymers a good journal?

Yes. By citation data, Polymers is a strong journal: it is Q1 in Biomaterials and 2 other subfields and ranks #152 of 1,169 Materials Science journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 14%). Polymers' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.9. Recent papers took a median of 28 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,258 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Biomaterials, Automotive Engineering, and Polymers and Plastics, so check that your topic fits its scope.

What is Polymers' Journal Metrics Score in 2026?

Polymers' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.9, from the August 2026 data release. The score is a two-year citation average computed from OpenAlex (CC0) data: citations received in the most recent complete year to works published in the two prior years, divided by the number of those works.

What is the acceptance rate of Polymers?

We have not found an official acceptance rate published by Polymers or its publisher, and Journal Metrics does not estimate one because submission counts are not public. What recent PubMed records do show is speed: accepted papers took a median of 28 days from submission to acceptance. To judge selectivity, compare Polymers' quartile and score with similar journals, or ask the editorial office.

What quartile is Polymers in?

Polymers' best quartile is Q1. By OpenAlex subfield: Q1 in Biomaterials; Q1 in Automotive Engineering; Q1 in Polymers and Plastics. Quartiles rank journals by Journal Metrics Score within each subfield.

Is the Journal Metrics Score the same as other journal citation metrics?

No. Journal Metrics computes the score independently from OpenAlex open data. Other providers use different citation databases, document types, and counting rules, so their published figures for Polymers will not match this score exactly. Compare journals using one source at a time.

How long does Polymers take to accept a paper?

Polymers accepts papers a median of 28 days after submission across 100 recent PubMed records with both dates; the middle half took 23–41 days. This includes peer review, editorial handling, and revisions.

How long is the peer review time at Polymers?

PubMed records when a manuscript was received and accepted, not the individual review stages, so peer review time on its own is not available. The full time from submission to acceptance at Polymers, which includes peer review and revisions, has a median of 28 days. For the time to a first decision, check the journal's own website.

Is Polymers faster than similar journals?

Polymers' median of 28 days from submission to acceptance is faster than 99% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

How much does it cost to publish in Polymers?

OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,258 USD for Polymers. This journal-level estimate may exclude taxes, waivers, discounts, or article-type fees, so confirm the current charge on the journal's website.

Which journals are alternatives to Polymers?

Comparable journals include Polimery, Macromol, Journal of Polymers and the Environment, and Polymer Bulletin. Compare their scores, acceptance times, and costs in the recommended alternatives on this page before choosing where to submit.

How do I submit a paper to Polymers?

MDPI journals take submissions through SuSy, MDPI's submission system, reached from the Submit button on the journal website. Before submitting, check the scope, follow the author guidelines for article type, length, and required statements, and prepare a cover letter. Accepted papers took a median of 28 days from submission to acceptance in recent PubMed records.

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