Title: Natural fibres and composites: research, development and production

Authors: Isidoro Peroni

Addresses: Scuola di Ingegneria, Aerospaziale, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy

Abstract: In this keynote the following topics about natural fibres for composites applications will be discussed: Composite characteristics; Present and future uses of composites; Why natural composites?; Natural fibres characteristics; History and peculiarities of hemp; Modernisation of the production cycle; Research on natural reinforcement; Natural matrix; Optical and SEM enlargements and tests; Prototypic production of an aeronautical rudder. Sections 2 and 3 treat with the composites in general, while Sections 4, 5, 7-9 are devoted to the natural composites and Sections 6 and 10 particularly to the hemp. Finally Section 11 is an example of a possible application of hemp reinforcement in aerospace field.

Keywords: fibre reinforced composites; natural reinforcement; hemp fibres; natural fibres; eco-compatibility; aerospace industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2009.027845

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2009 Vol.36 No.1/2/3/4, pp.396 - 416

Published online: 12 Aug 2009 *

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