This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Prof. Fabrizio Sarasini
Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment - Sapienza Università di Roma

Basic Info


Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Mechanical Properties
0 Natural fibers
0 polymer matrix composites
0 low velocity impact
0 fiber/matrix adhesion

Fingerprints

Mechanical Properties
low velocity impact
Natural fibers
polymer matrix composites
fiber/matrix adhesion

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Journal article
Published: 07 August 2021 in Materials Chemistry and Physics
Reads 0
Downloads 0

With the aim of optimizing the interfacial adhesion of basalt fibres with thermoset matrices, in this research the plasma polymerization technique (PECVD) was used to synthesize polymeric coatings based on tetravinylsilane (TVS) or its mixtures with oxygen on the surface of basalt fibres. The successful deposition of the polymer sizing was confirmed by XPS analysis, which highlighted the increase in the intensity of the carbon and oxygen peaks. To evaluate the influence of polymer sizing on interfacial adhesion, basalt fibre/polyester resin composites were tested through the short beam shear (SBS) test. Compared to neat basalt fibres, the modified fibres showed a significant increase in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) higher than 180%. These results compared quite favourably with those on glass fibres used as baseline, with higher ILSS values as a function of oxygen content. The improvement in interfacial adhesion was correlated with the increase in basalt fibre surface energy by single fibre dynamic contact angle tests.

ACS Style

Matteo Lilli; Michal Jurko; Veronika Sirjovova; Milan Zvonek; Vladimir Cech; Christina Scheffler; Celia Rogero; Maxim Ilyn; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. Basalt fibre surface modification via plasma polymerization of tetravinylsilane/oxygen mixtures for improved interfacial adhesion with unsaturated polyester matrix. Materials Chemistry and Physics 2021, 274, 125106 .

AMA Style

Matteo Lilli, Michal Jurko, Veronika Sirjovova, Milan Zvonek, Vladimir Cech, Christina Scheffler, Celia Rogero, Maxim Ilyn, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini. Basalt fibre surface modification via plasma polymerization of tetravinylsilane/oxygen mixtures for improved interfacial adhesion with unsaturated polyester matrix. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2021; 274 ():125106.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matteo Lilli; Michal Jurko; Veronika Sirjovova; Milan Zvonek; Vladimir Cech; Christina Scheffler; Celia Rogero; Maxim Ilyn; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2021. "Basalt fibre surface modification via plasma polymerization of tetravinylsilane/oxygen mixtures for improved interfacial adhesion with unsaturated polyester matrix." Materials Chemistry and Physics 274, no. : 125106.

Journal article
Published: 27 May 2021 in Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Basalt fibers were functionalized by ZnO electroless deposition for obtaining a nanostructured interphase for enhancing the interfacial strength with an epoxy resin matrix. The structural, morphological and wetting properties of the pristine basalt fabrics and ZnO-coated basalt fabrics were evaluated. The fabrics were uniformly coated with ZnO nanostructures featuring a wurtzite structure and a twin hexagonal prism morphology. The contact angle measurements revealed that ZnO prisms transformed the hydrophilic basalt fabric into a hydrophobic one (~130°). ZnOs were also grown on the basalt fibers as yarns to evaluate their interfacial adhesion by single fiber pull-out tests. The results emphasize significant improvement in the apparent interfacial shear strength (~42%) with limited degradation of the pristine basalt fiber tensile strength (a reduction of ~ 17%). Therefore, ZnO electroless deposition can be regarded as an effective route to improve the mechanical performance of basalt/epoxy composites expanding their potential range of applications as structural materials.

ACS Style

Nicoleta Preda; Andreea Costas; Matteo Lilli; Francesca Sbardella; Christina Scheffler; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. Functionalization of basalt fibers with ZnO nanostructures by electroless deposition for improving the interfacial adhesion of basalt fibers/epoxy resin composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 2021, 149, 106488 .

AMA Style

Nicoleta Preda, Andreea Costas, Matteo Lilli, Francesca Sbardella, Christina Scheffler, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini. Functionalization of basalt fibers with ZnO nanostructures by electroless deposition for improving the interfacial adhesion of basalt fibers/epoxy resin composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 2021; 149 ():106488.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicoleta Preda; Andreea Costas; Matteo Lilli; Francesca Sbardella; Christina Scheffler; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2021. "Functionalization of basalt fibers with ZnO nanostructures by electroless deposition for improving the interfacial adhesion of basalt fibers/epoxy resin composites." Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 149, no. : 106488.

Chapter
Published: 23 May 2021 in Machining and Machinability of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The urgent need to make natural fibre composites suitable for semi-structural applications demands a thorough assessment of their behaviour under different loading conditions and strain rates. In this regard, low velocity impact represents a severe hazard to the composite industry due to the resulting complex damage scenario able to markedly impair the mechanical properties of composite structures. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of the resistance to low velocity impacts of natural fibre composites, with a view to highlighting the effects of the various factors that influence the impact resistance of traditional fibre reinforced composites. The potential of natural fibre composites and differences with the behaviour of the synthetic counterparts are addressed, along with the areas that need improvement for a better exploitation of natural fibre composites in semi- or structural applications. Literature survey highlighted that also for natural fibre composites the toughness of the matrix dictates the energy absorbed at perforation, the damage resistance and tolerance, which are largely independent of fibre architecture. Another important feature, for energies far from perforation, is the less detrimental role played by delamination compared to synthetic laminates.

ACS Style

Fabrizio Sarasini; Jacopo Tirillò; Claudia Sergi; Francesca Sbardella. The Potential of Biocomposites in Low Velocity Impact Resistance Applications. Machining and Machinability of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites 2021, 107 -129.

AMA Style

Fabrizio Sarasini, Jacopo Tirillò, Claudia Sergi, Francesca Sbardella. The Potential of Biocomposites in Low Velocity Impact Resistance Applications. Machining and Machinability of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites. 2021; ():107-129.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fabrizio Sarasini; Jacopo Tirillò; Claudia Sergi; Francesca Sbardella. 2021. "The Potential of Biocomposites in Low Velocity Impact Resistance Applications." Machining and Machinability of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites , no. : 107-129.

Journal article
Published: 06 February 2021 in Nanomaterials
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The present research is focused on the synthesis of hexagonal ZnO wurtzite nanorods for the decoration of commercially available electrospun nylon nanofibers. The growth of ZnO was performed by a hydrothermal technique and for the first time on commercial electrospun veils. The growth step was optimized by adopting a procedure with the refresh of growing solution each hour of treatment (Method 1) and with the maintenance of a specific growth solution volume for the entire duration of the treatment (Method 2). The overall treatment time and volume of solution were also optimized by analyzing the morphology of ZnO nanostructures, the coverage degree, the thermal and mechanical stability of the obtained decorated electrospun nanofibers. In the optimal synthesis conditions (Method 2), hexagonal ZnO nanorods with a diameter and length of 53.5 nm ± 5.7 nm and 375.4 nm ± 37.8 nm, respectively, were obtained with a homogeneous and complete coverage of the veils. This easily scalable procedure did not damage the veils that could be potentially used as toughening elements in composites to prevent delamination onset and propagation. The presence of photoreactive species makes these materials ideal also as environmentally friendly photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. In this regard, photocatalytic tests were performed using methylene blue (MB) as model compound. Under UV light irradiation, the degradation of MB followed a first kinetic order data fitting and after 3 h of treatment a MB degradation of 91.0% ± 5.1% was achieved. The reusability of decorated veils was evaluated and a decrease in photocatalysis efficiency was detected after the third cycle of use.

ACS Style

Irene Bavasso; Francesca Sbardella; Maria Bracciale; Matteo Lilli; Jacopo Tirillò; Luca Palma; Anna Felici; Fabrizio Sarasini. Functionalization of Commercial Electrospun Veils with Zinc Oxide Nanostructures. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 418 .

AMA Style

Irene Bavasso, Francesca Sbardella, Maria Bracciale, Matteo Lilli, Jacopo Tirillò, Luca Palma, Anna Felici, Fabrizio Sarasini. Functionalization of Commercial Electrospun Veils with Zinc Oxide Nanostructures. Nanomaterials. 2021; 11 (2):418.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Bavasso; Francesca Sbardella; Maria Bracciale; Matteo Lilli; Jacopo Tirillò; Luca Palma; Anna Felici; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2021. "Functionalization of Commercial Electrospun Veils with Zinc Oxide Nanostructures." Nanomaterials 11, no. 2: 418.

Journal article
Published: 05 February 2021 in Applied Sciences
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The exploitation of mechanical properties and customization possibilities of 3D printed metal parts usually come at the cost of complex and expensive equipment. To address this issue, hybrid metal/polymer composite filaments have been studied allowing the printing of metal parts by using the standard Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) approach. The resulting hybrid metal/polymer part, the so called “green”, can then be transformed into a dense metal part using debinding and sintering cycles. In this work, we investigated the manufacturing and characterization of green and sintered parts obtained by FFF of two commercial hybrid metal/polymer filaments, i.e., the Ultrafuse 316L by BASF and the 17-4 PH by Markforged. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS) analyses of the mesostructure highlighted incomplete raster bonding and voids like those observed in conventional FFF-printed polymeric structures despite the sintering cycle. A significant role in the tensile properties was played by the building orientation, with samples printed flatwise featuring the highest mechanical properties, though lower than those achievable with standard metal additive manufacturing techniques.

ACS Style

Claudio Tosto; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Gianluca Cicala. Hybrid Metal/Polymer Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) to Print Metal Parts. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 1444 .

AMA Style

Claudio Tosto, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini, Gianluca Cicala. Hybrid Metal/Polymer Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) to Print Metal Parts. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (4):1444.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claudio Tosto; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Gianluca Cicala. 2021. "Hybrid Metal/Polymer Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) to Print Metal Parts." Applied Sciences 11, no. 4: 1444.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2021 in Biomolecules
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The composites based on basalt fibres and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) show promising applications in biomedical and automotive fields, but their mechanical performance is still largely hindered by poor interfacial properties. Zinc oxide nanorods have been successfully used to tune the PLA/basalt fibre interface by growing them on commercially available basalt fabrics. The hierarchical fibres significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of PLA-based composites, especially their flexural strength and stiffness. These values are 26% and 22% higher than those of unmodified basalt/PLA composites, and 24% and 34% higher than those of glass/PLA composites used as a baseline. The increase in tensile and flexural properties hinges on the mechanical interlocking action promoted by ZnO nanorods and on the creation of a compact transcrystallinity structure. A degradation of PLA matrix was detected but it was positively counteracted by the better interfacial stress transfer. This study offers a novel approach for modifying the fibre–matrix interface of biocomposites intended for high-performance applications.

ACS Style

Francesca Sbardella; Andrea Martinelli; Valerio Di Lisio; Irene Bavasso; Pietro Russo; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. Surface Modification of Basalt Fibres with ZnO Nanorods and Its Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA-Based Composites. Biomolecules 2021, 11, 200 .

AMA Style

Francesca Sbardella, Andrea Martinelli, Valerio Di Lisio, Irene Bavasso, Pietro Russo, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini. Surface Modification of Basalt Fibres with ZnO Nanorods and Its Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA-Based Composites. Biomolecules. 2021; 11 (2):200.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesca Sbardella; Andrea Martinelli; Valerio Di Lisio; Irene Bavasso; Pietro Russo; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2021. "Surface Modification of Basalt Fibres with ZnO Nanorods and Its Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA-Based Composites." Biomolecules 11, no. 2: 200.

Journal article
Published: 11 December 2020 in Journal of Membrane Science
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In this paper, different self-made membranes based on polyethersulfone (PES) with sulfonated nano-Fe3O4 (Fe3O4–SO3H) were tested in H-Type Microbial Fuel Cell system. The nanomaterials were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM and TGA, while the nanocomposite membranes by tensile tests, TGA, SEM, and profilometry. The presence of sulfonic groups (-SO3H) within the polymer matrix allowed a better dispersion of nanoparticles and prevented oxygen permeation from the cathodic compartment. Different amounts of filler, ranging from 5 wt% to 20 wt%, were adopted to establish an optimal content for enhancing the electrochemical performances as Power density (PD), Current intensity (CI) and Open Circuit Voltage (OCV), without altering the mechanical and thermal stability of the synthesized materials. PES with 10 wt% of sulfonated Fe3O4 resulted the best formulation among those analyzed with properties superior to commercial Nafion 117 membrane, with an OCV and a Coulombic efficiency equal to 868.09 mV and 29.58%, respectively. The maximum power and current densities improved by 270% and 117% compared to Nafion 117, respectively.

ACS Style

Irene Bavasso; Maria Paola Bracciale; Francesca Sbardella; Debora Puglia; Franco Dominici; Luigi Torre; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Igor Maria De Rosa; Wenbo Xin; Luca Di Palma. Sulfonated Fe3O4/PES nanocomposites as efficient separators in microbial fuel cells. Journal of Membrane Science 2020, 620, 118967 .

AMA Style

Irene Bavasso, Maria Paola Bracciale, Francesca Sbardella, Debora Puglia, Franco Dominici, Luigi Torre, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini, Igor Maria De Rosa, Wenbo Xin, Luca Di Palma. Sulfonated Fe3O4/PES nanocomposites as efficient separators in microbial fuel cells. Journal of Membrane Science. 2020; 620 ():118967.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Bavasso; Maria Paola Bracciale; Francesca Sbardella; Debora Puglia; Franco Dominici; Luigi Torre; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Igor Maria De Rosa; Wenbo Xin; Luca Di Palma. 2020. "Sulfonated Fe3O4/PES nanocomposites as efficient separators in microbial fuel cells." Journal of Membrane Science 620, no. : 118967.

Journal article
Published: 24 September 2020 in Applied Sciences
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The disposal of fibre reinforced composite materials is a problem widely debated in the literature. This work explores the ability to restore the mechanical properties of thermally conditioned basalt fibres through chemical treatments. Inorganic acid (HF) and alkaline (NaOH) treatments proved to be effective in regenerating the mechanical strength of recycled basalt fibres, with up to 94% recovery of the strength on treatment with NaOH. In particular, HF treatment proved to be less effective compared to NaOH, therefore pointing towards a more environmentally sustainable approach considering the disposal issues linked to the use of HF. Moreover, the strength regeneration was found to be dependent on the level of temperature experienced during the thermal treatment process, with decreasing effectiveness as a function of increasing temperature. SEM analysis of the fibres’ lateral surfaces suggests that surface defects removal induced by the etching reaction is the mechanism controlling recovery of fibre mechanical properties. In addition, studies on the fracture toughness of the regenerated single fibres were carried out, using focussed ion beam (FIB) milling technique, to investigate whether any structural change in the bulk fibre occurred after thermal exposure and chemical regeneration. A significant increase in the fracture toughness for the regenerated fibres, in comparison with the as-received and heat-treated basalt ones, was measured.

ACS Style

Matteo Lilli; Fabrizio Sarasini; Lorenzo Di Fausto; Carlos González; Andrea Fernández; Cláudio Saúl Lopes; Jacopo Tirillò. Chemical Regeneration of Thermally Conditioned Basalt Fibres. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 6674 .

AMA Style

Matteo Lilli, Fabrizio Sarasini, Lorenzo Di Fausto, Carlos González, Andrea Fernández, Cláudio Saúl Lopes, Jacopo Tirillò. Chemical Regeneration of Thermally Conditioned Basalt Fibres. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (19):6674.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matteo Lilli; Fabrizio Sarasini; Lorenzo Di Fausto; Carlos González; Andrea Fernández; Cláudio Saúl Lopes; Jacopo Tirillò. 2020. "Chemical Regeneration of Thermally Conditioned Basalt Fibres." Applied Sciences 10, no. 19: 6674.

Journal article
Published: 24 September 2020 in Molecules
Reads 0
Downloads 0

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. Tensile, flexural, impact and heat deflection temperature tests highlighted the lower reactivity and effectiveness of AA-g-PP, regardless of reinforcement type. Hybrid formulations with basalt/cellulose (15/15) and with 5 wt. % of MA-g-PP displayed remarkable increases in tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, and notched Charpy impact strength, of 45% and 284%, 97% and 263%, and 13%, in comparison with neat PP, respectively. At the same time, the thermo-mechanical stability was enhanced by 65% compared to neat PP. The results of this study, if compared with the ones available in the literature, reveal the ability of such a combination of reinforcements to provide materials suitable for automotive applications with environmental benefits.

ACS Style

Claudia Sergi; Francesca Sbardella; Matteo Lilli; Jacopo Tirillò; Andrea Calzolari; Fabrizio Sarasini. Hybrid Cellulose–Basalt Polypropylene Composites with Enhanced Compatibility: The Role of Coupling Agent. Molecules 2020, 25, 4384 .

AMA Style

Claudia Sergi, Francesca Sbardella, Matteo Lilli, Jacopo Tirillò, Andrea Calzolari, Fabrizio Sarasini. Hybrid Cellulose–Basalt Polypropylene Composites with Enhanced Compatibility: The Role of Coupling Agent. Molecules. 2020; 25 (19):4384.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claudia Sergi; Francesca Sbardella; Matteo Lilli; Jacopo Tirillò; Andrea Calzolari; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2020. "Hybrid Cellulose–Basalt Polypropylene Composites with Enhanced Compatibility: The Role of Coupling Agent." Molecules 25, no. 19: 4384.

Journal article
Published: 12 August 2020 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A thermoplastic starch (TPS) material is developed, based on corn starch plasticized with glycerol and citric acid in a 9:3:1 ratio and further bonded with isinglass and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471). In TPS, leather fragments, in the amount of 7.5 15 or 22.5 g/100 g of dry matter, were also introduced. The mixture was heated at a maximum temperature of 80 °C, then cast in an open mold to obtain films with thickness in the range 300 ± 50 microns. The leather fragments used were based on collagen obtained from production waste from shoemaking and tanned with tannins obtained from smoketree (Rhus cotinus), therefore free from chromium. Thermogravimetric (TGA) tests suggested that material degradation started at a temperature around 285 °C, revealing that the presence of leather fragments did not influence the occurrence of this process in TPS. Tensile tests indicated an increase in tensile properties (strength and Young’s modulus) with increasing leather content, albeit coupled, especially at 22.5 wt%, with a more pronounced brittle behavior. Leather waste provided a sound interface with the bulk of the composite, as observed under scanning electron microscopy. The production process indicated a very limited degradation of the material after exposure to UV radiation for eight days, as demonstrated by the slight attenuation of amide I (collagen) and polysaccharide FTIR peaks. Reheating at 80 °C resulted in a weight loss not exceeding 3%.

ACS Style

Silvio Pompei; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Carlo Santulli. Development of Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Including Leather Waste Fragments. Polymers 2020, 12, 1811 .

AMA Style

Silvio Pompei, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini, Carlo Santulli. Development of Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Including Leather Waste Fragments. Polymers. 2020; 12 (8):1811.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvio Pompei; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Carlo Santulli. 2020. "Development of Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Including Leather Waste Fragments." Polymers 12, no. 8: 1811.

Journal article
Published: 29 June 2020 in International Journal of Fatigue
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Investigation on the fatigue life of hybrid composites is critical to extend their structural applications. However, there is a lack of research on fatigue performance of hybrid composites. In this study, the fatigue life of a flax-basalt woven-ply hybrid composite is investigated and compared with the behaviour of 100% flax and 100% basalt composites. After the optimisation of the epoxy resin curing cycle, tension–tension fatigue tests were performed on samples with two orientations, 0°/90° and ±45°. S-N curves with absolute values and with normalised values are discussed. Results showed that the hybridisation was able to produce a positive effect on the fatigue resistance of basalt laminates: a better normalised fatigue resistance was obtained for the hybrid composite in comparison with the 100% basalt one in both orientations. A two-parameter fatigue life model was then applied and showed its ability to predict the fatigue behaviour of the hybrid composite for the two orientations. An analysis of damage mechanisms by means of infrared thermography and scanning electron microscopy allowed observing the different types of damage occurring during fatigue loading in hybrid composites.

ACS Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Fabienne Touchard; Fabrizio Sarasini; Laurence Chocinski–Arnault; Maria Rosaria Ricciardi; Vincenza Antonucci; Jacopo Tirillò. Fatigue behaviour of flax-basalt/epoxy hybrid composites in comparison with non-hybrid composites. International Journal of Fatigue 2020, 139, 105800 .

AMA Style

Maria Carolina Seghini, Fabienne Touchard, Fabrizio Sarasini, Laurence Chocinski–Arnault, Maria Rosaria Ricciardi, Vincenza Antonucci, Jacopo Tirillò. Fatigue behaviour of flax-basalt/epoxy hybrid composites in comparison with non-hybrid composites. International Journal of Fatigue. 2020; 139 ():105800.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Fabienne Touchard; Fabrizio Sarasini; Laurence Chocinski–Arnault; Maria Rosaria Ricciardi; Vincenza Antonucci; Jacopo Tirillò. 2020. "Fatigue behaviour of flax-basalt/epoxy hybrid composites in comparison with non-hybrid composites." International Journal of Fatigue 139, no. : 105800.

Journal article
Published: 20 May 2020 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The use of wood fibers is a deeply investigated topic in current scientific research and one of their most common applications is as filler for thermoplastic polymers. The resulting material is a biocomposite, known as a Wood Polymer Composite (WPC). For increasing the sustainability and reducing the cost, it is convenient to increase the wood fiber content as much as possible, so that the polymeric fraction within the composite is thereby reduced. On the other hand, this is often thwarted by a sharp decrease in toughness and processability—a disadvantage that could be overcome by compounding the material with a toughening agent. This work deals with the mechanical properties in tension and impact of polypropylene filled with 50 wt.% wood flour, toughened with different amounts (0%, 10%, and 20%) of a polypropylene-based thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). Such properties are also investigated as a function of extrusion processing variables, such as the feeding mode (i.e., starve vs. flood feeding) and screw speed. It is found that the mechanical properties do depend on the processing conditions: the best properties are obtained either in starve feeding conditions, or in flood feeding conditions, but at a low screw speed. The toughening effect of TPV is significant when its content reaches 20 wt.%. For this percentage, the processing conditions are less relevant in governing the final properties of the composites in terms of the stiffness and strength.

ACS Style

Valentina Mazzanti; Lorenzo Malagutti; Andrea Santoni; Francesca Sbardella; Andrea Calzolari; Fabrizio Sarasini; Francesco Mollica. Correlation between Mechanical Properties and Processing Conditions in Rubber-Toughened Wood Polymer Composites. Polymers 2020, 12, 1170 .

AMA Style

Valentina Mazzanti, Lorenzo Malagutti, Andrea Santoni, Francesca Sbardella, Andrea Calzolari, Fabrizio Sarasini, Francesco Mollica. Correlation between Mechanical Properties and Processing Conditions in Rubber-Toughened Wood Polymer Composites. Polymers. 2020; 12 (5):1170.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Valentina Mazzanti; Lorenzo Malagutti; Andrea Santoni; Francesca Sbardella; Andrea Calzolari; Fabrizio Sarasini; Francesco Mollica. 2020. "Correlation between Mechanical Properties and Processing Conditions in Rubber-Toughened Wood Polymer Composites." Polymers 12, no. 5: 1170.

Journal article
Published: 23 April 2020 in Applied Sciences
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of commercially available and relatively inexpensive enzyme preparations based on endo 1,4-β-xylanase, pectinase and xyloglucanase on the thermal (TGA), morphological (SEM), chemical (FT-IR) and mechanical (single yarn tensile tests) properties of flax yarns. The preparation based on pectinase and xyloglucanase provided the best results, resulting in the effective removal of hydrophilic components such as hemicellulose and pectin, the individualization of yarns and increased thermal stability at the expense of a reduction in mechanical properties, depending on the treatment parameters. Single yarn fragmentation tests pointed out an improved interfacial adhesion after enzymatic treatment, with reduced debonding length values of 18% for an epoxy matrix and up to 36% for a vinylester resin compared to untreated flax yarns.

ACS Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Jacopo Tirillò; Maria Paola Bracciale; Fabienne Touchard; Laurence Chocinski-Arnault; Antonio Zuorro; Roberto Lavecchia; Fabrizio Sarasini. Surface Modification of Flax Yarns by Enzymatic Treatment and Their Interfacial Adhesion with Thermoset Matrices. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 2910 .

AMA Style

Maria Carolina Seghini, Jacopo Tirillò, Maria Paola Bracciale, Fabienne Touchard, Laurence Chocinski-Arnault, Antonio Zuorro, Roberto Lavecchia, Fabrizio Sarasini. Surface Modification of Flax Yarns by Enzymatic Treatment and Their Interfacial Adhesion with Thermoset Matrices. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (8):2910.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Jacopo Tirillò; Maria Paola Bracciale; Fabienne Touchard; Laurence Chocinski-Arnault; Antonio Zuorro; Roberto Lavecchia; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2020. "Surface Modification of Flax Yarns by Enzymatic Treatment and Their Interfacial Adhesion with Thermoset Matrices." Applied Sciences 10, no. 8: 2910.

Journal article
Published: 13 February 2020 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Four different strategies for mitigating the highly hydrophilic nature of flax fibers were investigated with a view to increase their compatibility with apolar polypropylene. The effects of two carbon nanostructures (graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)), of a chemical modification with a fatty acid (stearic acid), and of maleated polypropylene on interfacial adhesion, mechanical properties (tensile and flexural), and thermal stability (TGA) were compared. The best performance was achieved by a synergistic combination of GNPs and maleated polypropylene, which resulted in an increase in tensile strength and modulus of 42.46% and 54.96%, respectively, compared to baseline composites. Stearation proved to be an effective strategy for increasing the compatibility with apolar matrices when performed in an ethanol solution with a 0.4 M concentration. The results demonstrate that an adequate selection of surface modification strategies leads to considerable enhancements in targeted properties.

ACS Style

Pietro Russo; Libera Vitiello; Francesca Sbardella; Jose I. Santos; Jacopo Tirillò; Maria Paola Bracciale; Iván Rivilla; Fabrizio Sarasini. Effect of Carbon Nanostructures and Fatty Acid Treatment on the Mechanical and Thermal Performances of Flax/Polypropylene Composites. Polymers 2020, 12, 438 .

AMA Style

Pietro Russo, Libera Vitiello, Francesca Sbardella, Jose I. Santos, Jacopo Tirillò, Maria Paola Bracciale, Iván Rivilla, Fabrizio Sarasini. Effect of Carbon Nanostructures and Fatty Acid Treatment on the Mechanical and Thermal Performances of Flax/Polypropylene Composites. Polymers. 2020; 12 (2):438.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pietro Russo; Libera Vitiello; Francesca Sbardella; Jose I. Santos; Jacopo Tirillò; Maria Paola Bracciale; Iván Rivilla; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2020. "Effect of Carbon Nanostructures and Fatty Acid Treatment on the Mechanical and Thermal Performances of Flax/Polypropylene Composites." Polymers 12, no. 2: 438.

Journal article
Published: 30 January 2020 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Calcium terephthalate anhydrous salts (CATAS), synthetized by reaction of terephthalic acid with metal (Ca) oxide were incorporated at different weight contents (0–30 wt. %) in recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) by melt processing. Their structure, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties (tensile and flexural behavior) were investigated. Results of tensile strength of the different formulations showed that when the CATAS content increased from 0.1 to 0.4 wt. %, tangible changes were observed (variation of tensile strength from 65.5 to 69.4 MPa, increasing value for E from 2887 up to 3131 MPa, respectively for neat rPET and rPET_0.4CATAS). A threshold weight amount (0.4 wt. %) of CATAS was also found, by formation at low loading, of a rigid amorphous fraction at the rPET/CATAS interface, due to the aromatic interactions (π−π conjugation) between the matrix and the filler. Above the threshold, a restriction of rPET/CATAS molecular chains mobility was detected, due to the formation of hybrid mechanical percolation networks. Additionally, enhanced thermal stability of CATAS filled rPET was registered at high content (Tmax shift from 426 to 441 °C, respectively, for rPET and rPET_30CATAS), essentially due to chemical compatibility between terephthalate salts and polymer molecules, rich in stable aromatic rings. The singularity of a cold crystallization event, identified at the same loading level, confirmed the presence of an equilibrium state between nucleation and blocking effect of amorphous phase, basically related to the characteristic common terephthalate structure of synthetized Ca–Metal Organic Framework and the rPET matrix.

ACS Style

Franco Dominici; Fabrizio Sarasini; Francesca Luzi; Luigi Torre; Debora Puglia. Thermomechanical and Morphological Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Anhydrous Calcium Terephthalate Nanocomposites. Polymers 2020, 12, 276 .

AMA Style

Franco Dominici, Fabrizio Sarasini, Francesca Luzi, Luigi Torre, Debora Puglia. Thermomechanical and Morphological Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Anhydrous Calcium Terephthalate Nanocomposites. Polymers. 2020; 12 (2):276.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Franco Dominici; Fabrizio Sarasini; Francesca Luzi; Luigi Torre; Debora Puglia. 2020. "Thermomechanical and Morphological Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Anhydrous Calcium Terephthalate Nanocomposites." Polymers 12, no. 2: 276.

Journal article
Published: 21 January 2020 in Molecules
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The present work investigates the effects of an environmentally friendly treatment based on supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) on the interfacial adhesion of flax fibers with thermoset matrices. In particular, the influence of this green treatment on the mechanical (by single yarn tensile test), thermal (by TGA), and chemical (by FT-IR) properties of commercially available flax yarns was preliminary addressed. Results showed that scCO2 can significantly modify the biochemical composition of flax fibers, by selectively removing lignin and hemicellulose, without altering their thermal stability and, most importantly, their mechanical properties. Single yarn fragmentation test results highlighted an increased interfacial adhesion after scCO2 treatment, especially for the vinylester matrix, in terms of reduced debonding and critical fragment length values compared to the untreated yarns by 18.9% and 15.1%, respectively. The treatment was less effective for epoxy matrix, for which debonding and critical fragment length values were reduced to a lesser extent, by 3.4% and 3.7%, respectively.

ACS Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Fabienne Touchard; Laurence Chocinski-Arnault; Vincent Placet; Camille François; Laurent Plasseraud; Maria Paola Bracciale; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. Environmentally Friendly Surface Modification Treatment of Flax Fibers by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. Molecules 2020, 25, 438 .

AMA Style

Maria Carolina Seghini, Fabienne Touchard, Laurence Chocinski-Arnault, Vincent Placet, Camille François, Laurent Plasseraud, Maria Paola Bracciale, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini. Environmentally Friendly Surface Modification Treatment of Flax Fibers by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. Molecules. 2020; 25 (3):438.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Carolina Seghini; Fabienne Touchard; Laurence Chocinski-Arnault; Vincent Placet; Camille François; Laurent Plasseraud; Maria Paola Bracciale; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini. 2020. "Environmentally Friendly Surface Modification Treatment of Flax Fibers by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide." Molecules 25, no. 3: 438.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2019 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Considering the major role played by sandwich structures in many fields where high stiffness-to-weight ratio is required, the selection of a suitable core material is of paramount importance. In order to face the environmental problems related to waste disposal, the selection of an eco-friendly core material is now included in the design criteria of sandwich structures. Agglomerated cork is recognized as a good solution that combines satisfactory mechanical performances and eco-sustainability. Many research studies individually addressed cork’s morphological, thermal, and mechanical features without providing a comprehensive overview of the relationships that exist between them. In this work, the investigation of the peculiar cork morphology allowed learning more about its good insulation capacity and its impressive recovery capability. The use of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) clarified the influence of temperature on both flexural and compressive performances. The effect of testing parameters such as temperature and speed on agglomerated cork properties was validated through statistical analysis. Moreover, to highlight agglomerated cork advantages and drawbacks, the work provides also a comparison with more traditional polyvinylchloride (PVC) foams commonly used in industrial applications.

ACS Style

Claudia Sergi; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Enrique Barbero Pozuelo; Sonia Sanchez Saez; Christoph Burgstaller. The Potential of Agglomerated Cork for Sandwich Structures: A Systematic Investigation of Physical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties. Polymers 2019, 11, 2118 .

AMA Style

Claudia Sergi, Jacopo Tirillò, Fabrizio Sarasini, Enrique Barbero Pozuelo, Sonia Sanchez Saez, Christoph Burgstaller. The Potential of Agglomerated Cork for Sandwich Structures: A Systematic Investigation of Physical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties. Polymers. 2019; 11 (12):2118.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claudia Sergi; Jacopo Tirillò; Fabrizio Sarasini; Enrique Barbero Pozuelo; Sonia Sanchez Saez; Christoph Burgstaller. 2019. "The Potential of Agglomerated Cork for Sandwich Structures: A Systematic Investigation of Physical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties." Polymers 11, no. 12: 2118.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2019 in Composites Part B: Engineering
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The effects of the integration of continuous sheets of randomly oriented multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the low velocity impact behavior of cross-ply carbon/epoxy laminates have been investigated. Three different energy levels were used, namely 5 J, 10 J, and 20 J and significant reductions in delaminated area in the range 11%–39% compared to the baseline laminates were achieved by incorporating interleaves at each 0/90 interface. This resulted in a better flexural damage tolerance of modified laminates. The combination of ultrasonic C-scans, profilometry, and scanning electron microscopy showed that interlaminar crossing between CNT sheets and carbon fibers occurred in modified laminates and that nanotube pull-out, bridging and improved fiber/matrix adhesion are the mechanisms responsible for the enhanced impact performance.

ACS Style

W. Xin; F. Sarasini; J. Tirillò; I. Bavasso; Francesca Sbardella; L. Lampani; I.M. De Rosa. Impact and post-impact properties of multiscale carbon fiber composites interleaved with carbon nanotube sheets. Composites Part B: Engineering 2019, 183, 107711 .

AMA Style

W. Xin, F. Sarasini, J. Tirillò, I. Bavasso, Francesca Sbardella, L. Lampani, I.M. De Rosa. Impact and post-impact properties of multiscale carbon fiber composites interleaved with carbon nanotube sheets. Composites Part B: Engineering. 2019; 183 ():107711.

Chicago/Turabian Style

W. Xin; F. Sarasini; J. Tirillò; I. Bavasso; Francesca Sbardella; L. Lampani; I.M. De Rosa. 2019. "Impact and post-impact properties of multiscale carbon fiber composites interleaved with carbon nanotube sheets." Composites Part B: Engineering 183, no. : 107711.

Journal article
Published: 14 December 2019 in Polymers
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)-based nanocomposites have been realized with incorporation (0–30 wt %) of anhydrous calcium terephthalate salts (CATAS), synthetized by reaction of terephtalic acid with the metal (Ca) oxide, by means of a melt processing. Their structure, morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy observations confirmed homogeneous dispersion of nanometer-sized fillers and a toughened fracture morphology even at the higher content, while thermal characterization confirmed an unvaried thermal stability and unmodified crystalline structure of the reference PEEK matrix. A negligible nucleating effect was evidenced, while a blocking effect of the amorphous phase fraction provide composites with increased stiffness, confirmed by enhanced values of G’ and shifts of glass transition peak to higher temperatures, for restriction in chain mobility imposed by CATAS. The proposed solutions aimed to enlarge the application range of high performance costly PEEK-based composites, by using thermally stable nanofillers with limited costs and easily controllable synthesis phase.

ACS Style

Franco Dominici; Debora Puglia; Francesca Luzi; Fabrizio Sarasini; Marco Rallini; Luigi Torre. A Novel Class of Cost Effective and High Performance Composites Based on Terephthalate Salts Reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone. Polymers 2019, 11, 2097 .

AMA Style

Franco Dominici, Debora Puglia, Francesca Luzi, Fabrizio Sarasini, Marco Rallini, Luigi Torre. A Novel Class of Cost Effective and High Performance Composites Based on Terephthalate Salts Reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone. Polymers. 2019; 11 (12):2097.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Franco Dominici; Debora Puglia; Francesca Luzi; Fabrizio Sarasini; Marco Rallini; Luigi Torre. 2019. "A Novel Class of Cost Effective and High Performance Composites Based on Terephthalate Salts Reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone." Polymers 11, no. 12: 2097.

Journal article
Published: 09 December 2019 in Composite Structures
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The effects of electrospun veil position, areal density and concurrent presence of MWCNTs on the low velocity impact behaviour and damage tolerance of thin cross-ply carbon/epoxy laminates were investigated. Three different interleaved configurations were tested along with baseline laminates and the optimal configuration was then used to assess the effect of veil density (1.5 gsm and 4.5 gsm) and CNT doping on the damage tolerance. The presence of nanofibrous interlayers resulted in a decrease higher than 40% in the delaminated area for impacts up to 7.5 J without weight penalty and degradation of the in-plane flexural properties. SEM micrographs of fractured surfaces allowed to identify the synergistic contribution of MWCNTs and nanofibres to the effective toughening of traditional laminates. Energy absorption mechanisms were found similar to those described in fracture toughness studies, which resulted in a better damage tolerance of modified laminates in terms of residual flexural strength and stiffness.

ACS Style

Fabrizio Sarasini; Jacopo Tirillò; Irene Bavasso; Maria Paola Bracciale; Francesca Sbardella; Luca Lampani; Gianluca Cicala. Effect of electrospun nanofibres and MWCNTs on the low velocity impact response of carbon fibre laminates. Composite Structures 2019, 234, 111776 .

AMA Style

Fabrizio Sarasini, Jacopo Tirillò, Irene Bavasso, Maria Paola Bracciale, Francesca Sbardella, Luca Lampani, Gianluca Cicala. Effect of electrospun nanofibres and MWCNTs on the low velocity impact response of carbon fibre laminates. Composite Structures. 2019; 234 ():111776.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fabrizio Sarasini; Jacopo Tirillò; Irene Bavasso; Maria Paola Bracciale; Francesca Sbardella; Luca Lampani; Gianluca Cicala. 2019. "Effect of electrospun nanofibres and MWCNTs on the low velocity impact response of carbon fibre laminates." Composite Structures 234, no. : 111776.