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Additive manufacturing processes allow for precise and efficient production, but it is estimated that one-third of the materials used results in waste. Further improvement in a sustainable perspective could come from the ability to manage these scraps and from the exploration of different routes for recovery and reuse. The Selective Laser Sintering process is particularly sensitive to this issue due to the waste ratio which can reach a very high quantity of not-sintered virgin powders. In this research study, recovered PA12 powders, preliminarily characterized through thermal and mechanical analysis, were mixed with 15% basalt powder to improve their aspect and thermomechanical resistance. The influence of basalt powder (BP) on mechanical properties as well as on the thermal stability of polyamide12 (PA12) powder composites was investigated. A study conducted on mechanical properties showed that polymeric composites' stiffness and hardness were influenced by adding filler, thus improving mechanical parameters. On the other hand, the application of thermogravimetric analysis allowed us to determine the composite's thermal stability. The objective is to obtain a recovered fully biobased material that could be used to substitute the petroleum-derived polymeric ones currently employed in the production of interiors and shells in the automotive sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, sustainability plays a central role in the response to global challenges, strongly influencing decisions in various sectors. From this perspective, global efforts to explore inventive and eco-friendly solutions to address the demands of industrialization and large-scale production are being made. Bio-based composites needed for lightweight applications benefit from the integration of natural fibers, due to their lower specific weight compared to synthetic fibers, contributing to the overall reduction in the weight of such structures without compromising the mechanical performance. Nevertheless, challenges arise when using natural fibers in composite laminates and hybridization seems to be a solution. However, there is still a lack of knowledge in the literature regarding the strategies and possibilities for reducing laminate thickness, without sacrificing the mechanical performance. This work aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the possibility of reducing the laminate thickness in hybrid flax/basalt composites made of plies, organized in the same stacking sequence, through only varying their number. Tensile, Charpy, flexural, and drop-weight tests were carried out for the mechanical characterization of the composites. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of achieving thinner hybrid composites, thus contributing to sustainability, while still having acceptable mechanical properties for structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, composite materials have been widely used in several fields. The challenge in recent years has been to find an effective and automatable repair technique for these materials. Low-speed impact tests were carried out on panels made from prepregs in carbon fibre and epoxy resin. An innovative repair technique has been tested by injecting resin into the delamination due to the impact event. After the first impact, some panels were repaired and re-impacted, while others were impacted twice consecutively. The data analysis and damage detection by an ultrasound technique demonstrate that the absorbed energy of the twice-impacted panels is lower than that of the repaired ones, demonstrating a configuration similar to that of the panels impacted only once. The results of this research have demonstrated the effectiveness of the repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport industry is one of the most important for society and its economic growth. In Europe, this is especially true for road transport, which is an essential pillar for employment, trade, and economic development. The challenge is to minimize energy and cost and maximize efficiency while ensuring comfort and safety. This is the driving force behind technological progress that with social changes (such as, changing consumer preferences, greater environmental awareness) and political changes is revolutionizing the way people and goods move. Nevertheless, the selection of lightweight materials is negligible; it could involve new manufacturing technologies and joining techniques. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been one of the prominent car producers employing aluminum alloys since 2003. A typical JLR monocoque is characterized by 90% aluminum stampings components made of 5xxx and 6xxx series aluminum alloys. Audi Space Frame (ASF) represents an alternative interpretation of improved lightweight frame architecture, and it is characterized by aluminum for more than 80% with the residual parts in CFRP used for rear panels, tunnel and the components useful to higher torsional stiffness. A 30% weight decrease is reached with respect to traditional steel corresponding elements. This review shows an overview of the challenges and opportunities for automotive body structures in the coming years while maintaining the goal of reducing mass and improving sustainability without increasing costs and impacting safety. This manuscript first evaluates how we can reduce mass in vehicles minimizing the carbon footprint and developing recyclable structures. The potential of new materials will be shown in light of the design constraints and the choice of technology used. The final remarks will discuss opportunities for engineering innovation dictated by this period of great changes and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP), respectively, based on a vynilester and epoxy resin were loaded under low-velocity impact condition to highlight the influences of different matrices and temperature on their dynamic response. In particular, measurements were performed at room and the low temperature of -25[degrees]C on samples simply supported by air to exactly simulate the incidental impact during the structure service and having the same thickness. Impact tests were carried out at penetration to obtain the complete load-displacement curve and to measure the penetration energy, and at different energy levels, 5, 10, and 20 J, to investigate the influence of the matrix on the damage start and propagation. After the impact tests, the specimens were nondestructively investigated by the ultrasound technique to measure the delamination. The interesting results obtained on carbon fiber laminates impacted at room and lower temperature are here reported and compared. In general, better behavior was noted for vinyl ester-based composites, extensively used in the naval field, thanks to their low absorption for humidity., INTRODUCTION Carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) materials are widely used to replace traditional ones in several fields, recently in naval and aerospace in particular, thanks to their functional and structural properties. [...]

The rheology of the polymer matrix plays a crucial role in determining the quality of thermoplastic laminates. To highlight this aspect, we prepared laminates based on polyamide 11 (PA11), a bio-based matrix with tricky rheology, and basalt fiber fabrics. The PA11 viscosity rapidly increases over time due to degradation phenomena. Samples were prepared by two procedures differing in terms of duration and intensity of the hot compaction step. Morphological analyses revealed that the fast procedure ensures a better impregnation of the fabrics, with a substantial reduction of the volume of voids (1%, against 9% of the slow procedure). This reflects in considerable increases of the flexural modulus (ca. + 20%) and strength (ca. + 60%) and a significant reduction the extent of impact damage. This study provides useful guidelines for a correct selection of the processing parameters based on the knowledge of the rheological behavior of the polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]