Ricerc@Sapienza

Hybrid composite samples with different carbon and glass fiber layers arrangement were produced by resin transfer molding (RTM) in an attempt to disclose the effects of low temperature on their flexural and low velocity impact behavior. Flexural tests were carried out at T = −50°C and the failure modes were examined, while impact tests, always at T = −50°C, were performed at penetration and at indentation in the range from 10 J to 30 J. The damage extension was accurately evaluated by ultrasonic non-destructive testing.

This research studies the inter-cultural urban aspect often seen on the level of big cities worldwide. It presents the main characteristics that dominate the phenomenon of diaspora-ruled neighborhoods in international cities.

Despite the advantages offered by natural fibre-based thermoplastic composites in terms of environmental impact and cost, their mechanical performance is generally lower than that of synthetic counterparts. Hybridisation with mineral fibres (basalt) can broaden the industrial applications of natural fibre reinforced composites. The present study focused on the performance of injection-moulded short basalt fibre, hemp fibre and hemp/basalt fibre hybrid high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites.

Thermoplastic fiber metal laminates (TFMLs) represent a relatively new class of fiber metal laminates (FMLs) specifically designed to overcome the limitations of conventional fiber metal laminates in terms of the elevated processing temperatures and pressures required for their consolidation. In this work the low velocity impact response of TFMLs based on aluminum alloy and a polypropylene (PP) matrix reinforced with basalt fibers has been experimentally addressed, by considering the effect of the stacking sequence and of the impact temperature.

The Achilles heel of thermoplastic natural fibre composites is their limited durability. The
environmental degradation of the mechanical properties of hemp and hemp/basalt hybridreinforced
high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites has been investigated with a special focus
on the effects of water ageing and accelerated ageing, including hygrothermal and UV radiation.
Modification of the matrix was carried out using a maleic anhydride high-density polyethylene
copolymer (MAPE) as a compatibilizer. Hybridization of hemp fibres with basalt fibres and the

This study deals with the development and optimization of hybrid composites integrating microcrystalline cellulose and short basalt fibers in a polypropylene (PP) matrix to maximize the mechanical properties of resulting composites. To this aim, the effects of two different coupling agents, endowed with maleic anhydride (MA-g(grafted)-PP) and acrylic acid (AA-g-PP) functionalities, on the composite properties were investigated as a function of their amount.

In order to investigate the role of plant hybridization in barley on the overall thermomechanical performance of polymeric composites containing their by-products, straws from one self-pollinated (Quench) and two F1 hybrid lines of barley (Tatoo and Zoo) were collected and characterized from the chemical (FTIR), structural (XRD), thermal (TGA) and mechanical (tensile) point of view, and used as reinforcements in a commodity plastic, such as polypropylene.

The unremitting quest of natural and renewable materials able to replace their synthetic counterparts in high-performance applications has involved also sandwich structures. In this regard, the aim of this work is to characterize the impact response, in both high- and low-velocity conditions, of green sandwich structures made of agglomerated cork as core and flax/epoxy laminates as face sheets. Both bare cork, flax skins, and complete sandwich structures were subjected to impacts at three different energy levels representing the 25%, 50%, and 75% of the respective perforation thresholds.

Natural fiber composites have the potential to be widely applied as an alternative to or in combination with glass fiber composites in sustainable energy-absorbing structures. This study investigates the behavior of hemp fiber-reinforced vinylester composites when subjected to low-velocity impact loading by using an instrumented falling weight impact equipment. Different stacking sequences are tested, including a hybrid pattern resulting from a combination of natural and traditional glass fibers. Both penetration and indentation tests are performed.