Structural, fibre reinforced, battery prototypes with two types of electrolyte matrix material, a gel and a solid polymer, have been manufactured. This was to confirm the concept of using carbon fibres as current collector in the anode as well as providing a mechanical load-carrying functionality. As a result, functioning batteries with gel electrolyte have been produced and their properties ha...

A novel high flux bright light-driven high temperature spinning disc processor operating at ∼720 °C can effectively synthesise carbon nanofibres from fructose, a natural feedstock, in polyethylene glycol-200, within minutes and with multiple reactor passes being a pivotal operating parameter in controlling the growth of the fibres.

The agronomic characteristics of Ramie and Spanish Broom were investigated for seven years in the pedoclimatic conditions of Central Italy. The chemical, physical and mechanical properties of these fibres were also examined in order to evaluate the feasibility to use them in composite materials. Results demonstrate that Ramie grown in the temperate environment can be harvested three times a yea...

Natural fibres are gradually emerging as essential ingredients of various types of textiles in view of increasing global concerns about environmental degradation. Reduction of carbon foot print in constructions is currently attracting global attention warranting innovations in construction technology with stress on eco-congruity. In this context increasing use of eco-concordant materials made o...

Carbon nanotubes are molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon with outstanding properties. They are among the stiffest and strongest fibres known, with Young’s moduli as high as 1 TPa and tensile strengths of up to 63 GPa. They also have remarkable electronic properties and can be metallic or semiconducting depending on their structure and diameter. There is currently great interest in exploit...

Influence of the stacking sequences of hybrid composites on the tensile strength, flexural strength, inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) and impact energy was investigated. The hybrid glass-basalt-carbon/polyester composite laminates were processed by hand lay-up procedure at room temperature. The fracture surface of the composite laminates after the tension and flexural test was examined by sc...

The study analysed the tribological performance of five different polymer composites: polyetheretherketone reinforced with 30% carbon fibres—PEEK CF30, 10% fibres, graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene—PEEK MOD, polytetrafluoroethylene 25% fibres—PTFE CF25, polyoxymethylene fibres—POM CF30 ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene—UHMW PE. polymers were tested under sliding regime a reciprocating...

Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) rely on the control of interactions between microorganisms and electronic devices, enabling to transform chemical energy into electricity. We report a new approach to construct ready-to-use artificial bioelectrodes by immobilizing Geobacter sulfurreducens cells in composite materials associating silica gel and carbon felt fibres. Viability test conf...

The transformation of anthracene oil into pitch is a feasible procedure for obtaining pitches with binder and impregnating characteristics. Moreover, their high aromaticity, total absence of solid particles and good fluidity make anthracene oil-based pitches interesting precursors for graphitizable carbon materials (e.g., carbon fibres, synthetic graphites). To prepare this kind of material the...

Composites have recently emerged as the ideal material for weight reduction in a wide range of technical applications. Hybrid composites offer special properties that enable them to meet design objectives more efficiently and affordably than conventional composites. Natural fiber-based hybrid are also less damaging environment reduced carbon footprint. The hybridization natural fibres with synt...