At Additives for Polymers Journal, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. Our policies are designed to ensure that all published research meets rigorous standards of quality, originality, and ethical conduct. Below are our key ethical guidelines and policies:

1. Ethical Principles

• Research Integrity: Authors must ensure that their research is conducted with honesty and integrity. This includes avoiding fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. All data must be reported accurately, and any conflicts of interest must be disclosed.

• Originality and Plagiarism: Submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is not tolerated. Proper citation of all sources is required to avoid plagiarism.

• Conflicts of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of the research, review process, or editorial decisions.

• Human and Animal Rights: Research involving human subjects or animals must adhere to ethical standards and obtain necessary approvals from relevant ethics committees. Authors must provide a statement confirming compliance with ethical guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contribution

• Authorship Criteria: All individuals listed as authors must have made a significant contribution to the research and manuscript preparation. Contributions should be clearly defined, and all authors should approve the final version of the manuscript.

• Acknowledgments: Contributions from individuals or institutions that do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the manuscript. Financial support and other assistance must also be disclosed.

3. Peer Review Process

• Confidentiality: The peer review process is confidential. Reviewers must not disclose any information about the manuscript or discuss it with others outside the review process.

• Review Objectivity: Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive feedback and evaluate the manuscript based on its scientific quality and relevance to the journal's scope.

• Reviewer Bias: Reviewers should avoid any personal, professional, or financial bias that could affect their evaluation of the manuscript.

4. Handling Misconduct

• Investigation of Misconduct: Any allegations of research misconduct or ethical violations will be thoroughly investigated. This includes cases of data manipulation, plagiarism, or unethical research practices.

• Corrections and Retractions: If errors or issues are identified post-publication, appropriate corrections or retractions will be made to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the published record.

5. Editorial Responsibilities

• Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on the quality and relevance of the manuscript, without bias or favoritism. Editorial decisions are made with the input of peer reviewers and based on the merit of the research.

• Transparency: The editorial process will be conducted transparently. Any potential conflicts of interest involving editors will be disclosed, and appropriate measures will be taken to avoid bias in decision-making.

6. Data Sharing and Reproducibility

• Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to make their data publicly available whenever possible to promote transparency and reproducibility of research findings.

• Reproducibility: Manuscripts should provide sufficient detail and information to enable others to replicate the study and validate the results.

7. Ethical Compliance

• Compliance with Policies: Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with these publication ethics and policies. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in manuscript rejection or other actions as deemed appropriate by the editorial board.

8. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding publication ethics, please contact the editorial office at editor@additivesforpolymers.org or visit our website. We are committed to addressing any issues promptly and upholding the highest standards of academic integrity.