Journal profile · Polymer Science
Polymer Bulletin
ISSN 0170-0839 · eISSN 1436-2449 · Springer Berlin Heidelberg · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1978
Polymer Bulletin: CAS Zone 3 · Chemistry (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.05; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,790; median 171 days to acceptance (126 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 50%; 601 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Polymer Bulletin is published by Springer Berlin Heidelberg and is in Zone 3 of Chemistry in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties, Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization and Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties, together about 27.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Polymers and Plastics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Polymer Bulletin publishes significant advances in polymer science, including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics and material science. The journal is structured in the following topics and collection, which need to be picked during submission.Topics Biopolymers and Biomaterials Polymer Characterisation Polymer Physics and Theory Polymer Synthesis and Mechanism Collections Advanced Testing of Soft Polymer Materials The scientific scope of this COLLECTION is dedicated to novel and advanced testing methods establishing a connection to fundamental scientific principles that even show how test results from simple pieces of uncured/cured elastomers or other soft polymers are related to the realistic geometry and loading conditions, and thus, create new opportunities to link laboratory testing data to a real-world product performance. Ideally, predictive laboratory tests balance accuracy, relevance, instrument productivity and cost efficiency, while providing new mechanistic insights and modeling opportunities of overall material and product properties. Information: This journal is undergoing adjustment to the presentation of publications. While peer review decisions will be given within normal timeframes, publication may be delayed due to technical transitions
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Polymer Science
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 5%); most named United States 8, Japan 6, Germany 6, Switzerland 4, Mainland China 2 (42 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesMaterials Science9.5%
- Advanced Polymer Synthesis and CharacterizationChemistry9.2%
- Polymer Nanocomposites and PropertiesMaterials Science9%
- Synthesis and properties of polymersMaterials Science8.8%
- Polymer crystallization and propertiesMaterials Science7.1%
- Conducting polymers and applicationsMaterials Science6.1%
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applicationsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.3%
- Silicone and Siloxane ChemistryMaterials Science3.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Chemistry Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Chemistry Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Chemistry Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Polymer Science | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexINSPECCASCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.05LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.2Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.65LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.94LetPub ·
- h-index
- 55LetPub ·
- h-index
- 112OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,814OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.46OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 10.74%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 597LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 1,100,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 13,607 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 471 | 97 | 319 |
| 2025 | 601 | 76 | 2,297 |
| 2024 | 510 | 78 | 4,432 |
| 2023 | 448 | 57 | 5,249 |
| 2022 | 673 | 86 | 11,694 |
| 2021 | 479 | 24 | 9,159 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
171 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 109 days – 258 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 13 days (126 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 187 days
- Sample
- 126 articles with submission and acceptance dates (1,186 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 4.8 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 50%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 36 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,790 / EUR 2,890 / GBP 2,490 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Plagiarism
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria. Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
Authors must disclose competing interests. Model summary
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data transparency policy. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
Journal is a COPE member and follows COPE guidelines on misconduct. Model summary
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Polymer Bulletin, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Plagiarism
Journal may use plagiarism screening software. Model summary
Important note: the journal may use software to screen for plagiarism.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1978
- ISSN
- 0170-0839
- Electronic ISSN
- 1436-2449
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Polymer Bulletin
What CAS zone is Polymer Bulletin in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Polymer Bulletin is in Zone 3 of Chemistry, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Polymer Science. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Chemistry. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Polymer Bulletin?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.05; CiteScore 8.4, h-index 112.
How long does peer review take at Polymer Bulletin?
Based on the dates recorded on 126 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 171 days (interquartile range 109–258 days); authors report an average review time of about 4.8 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 50%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Polymer Bulletin?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Polymer Bulletin based?
Of the 42 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 5%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (8), Japan (6) and Germany (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Polymer Bulletin?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Polymer Bulletin is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, INSPEC, CAS and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Polymer Bulletin open access, and what is the APC?
Polymer Bulletin is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,790.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .