Search

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. The results were then compared with the room temperature ones obtained in a previous paper to highlight the influence of the temperature. The compression after impact tests were carried out at room temperature for samples previously impacted at both room and low temperature to assess the damage tolerance of the different hybrid configurations. Stacking sequence was found to govern both the flexural and impact behavior of laminates. At low temperature, the flexural strength and modulus values improved over the corresponding room temperature values irrespective of the stacking sequence, while an easier damage propagation and less residual strength were detected in dynamic loading.

In this study, the effects of surface treatment of a low-temperature atmospheric oxygen plasma on basalt/epoxy composites were investigated to improve the hydrophobility of the composite surface. After the plasma treatment, the unmodified and surface treated composite laminates have been experimentally characterized by performing contact angle measurements, low-velocity impact tests and indentation depth on the impacted laminates. Results have showed a dependence of such composite properties on the plasma coating deposition and on the treatment parameters outlining the need to optimize both the plasma power and exposition time to plasma in order to assess the efficiency of the plasma treatment and establish the optimal processing conditions.

The low-velocity impact behavior of polyester glass fiber composite laminates has been investigated under different clamping conditions, by wetting the specimens surface with fluids having different densities. Unidirectional composite laminates, based on polymer resin and fibers of naval interest, with different thicknesses have been manufactured by resin transfer molding process in order to have a high control of the final properties and a high fiber volume fraction. Impact tests in air have been, first, performed up to penetration on all manufactured composites having four different thicknesses to get information on the material impact behavior. The effect of the clamping conditions and the interaction of the laminates with two fluids different in density, i.e., water and paraffin oil, have been investigated, then, only on the thickest laminates that showed a lower tendency to impact damage. In particular, the impact tests have been performed by impacting the front surface of the sample and by wetting the back surface of the composite samples under unclamped and clamped conditions, replicating the boundary constraints suggested by ASTM D7136 Standard for the conventional impact tests. Experimental results showed a lower initial rigidity, higher absorbed energy and deflection for specimens exposed to liquids with respect to those exposed to air, confirming the need of taking into account the fluid interaction in the case of marine composite applications.

Among the several additive manufacturing techniques, fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a 3D printing technique that is fast, handy, and low cost, used to produce complex-shaped parts easily and quickly. FFF adds material layer by layer, saving energy, costs, raw material costs, and waste. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of the thermoplastic materials involved are low compared to traditional engineering materials. This paper deals with the manufacturing of composite material laminates obtained by the Markforged continuous filament fabrication (CFF) technique, using an innovative matrix infilled by carbon nanofibre (Onyx), a high-strength thermoplastic material with an excellent surface finish and high resistance to chemical agents. Three macro-categories of samples were manufactured using Onyx and continuous carbon fibre to evaluate the effect of the fibre on mechanical features of the novel composites and their influence on surface finishes. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis and acquisition of roughness profile by a confocal lens were conducted. Tensile and compression tests, thermogravimetric analysis and calorimetric analysis using a DSC (differential scanning calorimeter) were carried out on all specimen types to evaluate the influence of the process parameters and layup configurations on the quality and mechanical behaviour of the 3D-printed samples.

International audience; 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.

The purpose of hybridization is to obtain a new material preserving advantages from all of its constituents. Hybridization offers intermediate properties respect to the original materials, by creating a balance effect within the fibres incorporated in the composite materials and leading to a composite with more tailored behaviour The increasing need to mitigate the environmental impact of synthetic fibres and polymers is promoting the use and application of natural materials orienting the research toward the development of biodegradable systems. In this framework, hybrid reinforced laminates with flax and basalt twill layers alternatively stacked, were manufactured by resin infusion fabrication technology and impacted at low velocity to investigate their dynamic behaviour, in an attempt to couple the impact resistance of basalt fibres with the environmentally friendly nature of flax fibres. For comparison purposes, the same experimental characterization has been performed on laminates reinforced with only basalt or flax fibres. The experimental results confirmed the positive role played by fibre hybridization in terms of damage. The Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry technique was adopted to analyze the internal damage and to provide information on the shape and the extent of the delamination, that was found concentrated under the impactor-material contact point for the basalt and flax/basalt laminates.

Literature reports several works concerning the impact response of thermoplastic composites reinforced with woven fibres and involved dissipation mechanisms. However, although a significant temperature effect is expected on the impact behaviour of these materials, to the best of our knowledge, a limited number of experimental studies are focused on this aspect, and the most of them concern thermosetting composites. For this purpose, this research deals with experimental tests performed on a polyamide 6/woven basalt fibers composite specimens by a drop weight-testing machine, at four different temperatures (room temperature, 40°C, 80°C and 100°C), selected around the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the matrix. It was verified that the temperature influences the impact behaviour of the basalt composite even if a value of threshold seems to be achieved at T=80° C. This probably happens because the Tg of the tested composite matrix has been exceeded. Furthermore, dynamic-mechanical tests conducted on specimens from both the reference composite laminates and plates with equal thickness of the pure matrix, these latters obtained under optimal hot pressing of stacked PA6 films, demonstrated outstanding improvements in terms of moduli as well as superior damping ability of the composite structure.

In this work, the evaluation of damaged areas due to low velocity impact tests at different impact energy values on Carbon Fibre (CF) laminates with 3D fabric, made by infusion technology and reinforced with epoxy resin, were investigated by NDI (Non-destructive Investigation) technique based on speckle interferometry. Composites are characterized by several interacting failure modes such as matrix breakage, fibre failure and delaminations, which can be simultaneously induced by low velocity impacts. It can be very difficult to detect by visual inspections of the structures such phenomena. The aim of this study is to evaluate the damaged area due to an impact event. CF composite laminates were impact damaged with four energy levels (5, 10, 20, 30J) at room temperature, by drop weight impact machine. The results showed that ESPI technique was able to identify barely visible low-velocity impact damages.

In an attempt to increase the low-velocity impact response of natural fiber composites, a new hybrid intraply woven fabric based on flax and basalt fibers has been used to manufacture laminates with both thermoplastic and thermoset matrices. The matrix type (epoxy or polypropylene (PP) with or without a maleated coupling agent) significantly affected the absorbed energy and the damage mechanisms. The absorbed energy at perforation for PP-based composites was 90% and 50% higher than that of epoxy and compatibilized PP composites, respectively. The hybrid fiber architecture counteracted the influence of low transverse strength of flax fibers on impact response, irrespective of the matrix type. In thermoplastic laminates, the matrix plasticization delayed the onset of major damage during impact and allowed a better balance of quasi-static properties, energy absorption, peak force, and perforation energy compared to epoxy-based composites.

Hydrophobic surfaces are highly desired for several applications due to their exceptional properties such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-friction and others. Such surfaces can be prepared via numerous methods including plasma technology, a dry technique with low environmental impact. In this paper, the effect of a one-step sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) plasma treatment upon the low velocity impact behavior of basalt/epoxy composites has been investigated by using several characterization techniques. A capacitive coupled radiofrequency plasma system was used for the plasma surface treatment of basalt/epoxy composites, and suitable surface treatment conditions were experimentally investigated with respect to gas flow rate, chamber pressure, power intensity, and surface treatment time by measuring the water droplet contact angle of treated specimens. The contact angle measurements showed that treating with SF6 plasma would increase the hydrophobicity of basalt/epoxy composites, moreover, the impact results obtained on reinforced epoxy basalt fiber showed damage in a confined area and higher impact resistance for plasma-treated basalt systems.

The research reported in this paper was aimed mainly to investigate the different NDE techniques on specimens made by a new process labeled as "pulsed infusion", very crucial for voids content under critical loading conditions. The impact load, in fact, is critical for composite laminates due to their anisotropy, in particular in extreme temperature conditions due to their brittleness. An additional and very relevant aim was to collect a large number of experimental results to supply useful information for the numerical models needed to simulate the dynamic behavior of composite laminates. At the aim to investigate the response under dynamic loads of laminates fabricated by a new vacuum assisted technology labeled as "pulsed infusion", rectangular carbon fiber composite specimens were subjected to low velocity impact tests. Experimental tests up to complete penetration and at different energy levels, were carried out by a modular falling weight tower. All the parameters related to the phenomenon, like penetration energy, maximum force and indentation depths, were used to validate existing semi-empirical and numerical models. The largely used ultra sound technique (US) was adopted to investigate the delamination together with the thermo graphic technique. The results of the measurements were compared with data obtained on the same specimens by holographic analysis (ESPI). One of the scope was to investigate the crucial internal impact damage and assess the ability of an unconventional ND system (ESPI) in giving right information about non-visual damage generated inside composite laminates subjected to dynamic loads. Moreover, some of the specimens were cut to allow the fractographic analysis. The efficiency of the above mentioned new fabrication technology was studied also comparing the results with measurements from literature on impacted autoclave cured laminates. By the comparison between the results, good agreements were found denoting the efficiency and the applicability of the new fabrication and the used NDE methods. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epoxy based laminates reinforced with woven basalt fibres have been manufactured and characterized by quasi-static mechanical tests and low-velocity impact tests. Samples were prepared by infusion of 16 plies of basalt under pre-optimized conditions. All the interlaminar shear strength, flexural and impact tests were carried out at room temperature, −25 °C and −50 °C to investigate the effect of temperature on the mechanical characteristics and the impact damage onset and propagation. Ultrasonic technique were adopted to provide information on the shape and the extent of the internal damage. The final aim was to be able to predict impact energy and delamination under different temperature conditions and to assess the influence of the resin matrix stiffening at low temperature on the composite behaviour. Results show that at low temperature due to the stiffening of the resin matrix, the composite tested is more resistant and less deformable. It is interesting since, at low temperatures, it is more straightforward the damage propagation. In particular, ILSS and flexural tests show a maximum increase of 39% and 12.78% respectively at T = −50 °C compared to the value at room temperature. A delamination area increase of wholly 40% at T = −50 °C, is detected.

Basalt-epoxy laminates are establishing gradually in engineering sectors due to increasing attention toward environmental matters. Some properties should be improved to extend their applications and the cold spray (CS) metallization provides a potential solution. Unfortunately, the fragile nature of thermosetting polymers makes it difficult the CS coating formation and grow-up. Therefore, this research work aims to study an innovative solution able to enhance the adhesion mechanisms between the cold sprayed metal particles and the thermosetting polymer-based substrates. For this purpose, an original manufacturing method that provides the surface PLA treatment for thermosetting samples was developed. AlSi10Mg particles were cold sprayed on the treated surface, and the low-velocity impact behaviour of the metallised hybrid structures was analysed in details. The outcomes prove the effectiveness of the method proposed on the deposition process and the beneficial effects of metallization on impact damage mechanisms.

Composite laminates reinforced by woven basalt fibers and based on different polymer matrices were prepared and mechanically characterized, in static and dynamic conditions, to compare the results and evaluate the influence of the matrix type. In this regard, a thermoplastic resin, polyamide 6 (PA6), and two thermosetting matrices, vinyl ester and epoxy grades, commonly used for high-performance applications, were considered. Indentation depth measurements carried out by a confocal microscope and ultrasound analyses performed on specimens subjected to falling dart tests at levels of impact energies lower than the perforation one permitted to evaluate the extent of plastic deformations and of subjected delaminations, respectively. These data have provided useful information about the involved damage mechanisms and highlighted interesting perspective of use for the eco-friendly thermoplastic sample.

The effect of stacking sequence on the impact damage mechanisms and the matrix-fiber dependent properties, such as flexural and interlaminar strength , of epoxy hybrid basalt/flax composites has been experimentally investigated. The basalt and flax fabrics have been appropriately selected with approximately the same areal weight and stacked in the same number in three different symmetrical analysed configurations to manufacture composites with comparable conditions regarding fibre content by weight. No influence of fibre sequence was observed for the flexural modulus , whereas some differences were exhibited by the flexural and the interlaminar shear strength depending on the resin content. The impact tests were carried out at penetration and different energy levels. After impact, indentation measurements have been performed by a confocal microscope to get information on the damage propagation and characteristics that resulted affected by the hybridisation type and by the impact energy. The results evidenced the relevance of the stacking sequence in the composite design to meet specific requirements.

The aim of this work is the study of the influence of a large notch damage in a stiffened aeronautical panel. In particular, the damage onset and evolution due to a cut-out located in the bay of an omega stiffened composite panel subjected to a compressive load is investigated. Three different cut-outs are considered: parallel, normal, and 45° oriented respect to the load. The effects of such configurations are compared in terms of fibre and matrix failures, in order to better understand which configuration is the most sensitive to these type of damages.

Glass fiber composite materials in epoxy resin with different content of a nitrile rubber modified hybrid resin were manufactured by infusion with two different rubber concentrations. SX 10 epoxy resin was modified to improve the response of the laminates under impact loads. At the aim to test the improvement of the impact resistance over the conventional epoxy resin system, the rectangular specimens 100∗150 mm2 were dynamically loaded in the center by a falling weight machine, Ceast Fractovis, using a cylindrical impactor with a hemispherical nose 19,8 mm in diameter and a total mass of 3.6 kg. Impact tests were carried out at penetration to obtain the complete load-displacement curve useful to measure the penetration energy and to highlight the characteristics points for the increasing energies evaluation, 5J, 10J and 20J, to investigate the damage start and propagation. After the impact tests, the specimens were observed by visual inspection to investigate the delamination extension whereas a confocal microscope was used for the indentation measurements. The obtained results on the modified epoxy system were compared to neat GFRP laminates impact performances. No significant impact performance difference was recorded between samples with different nitrile rubber modifier content. A higher indentation was recorded on the modified samples related with a lower delamination extension. It could represent a good practical results since from a simple external damage measurement it can be possible to obtain information about a low internal delamination. © 2016 The Authors.

Graphene-based nanocomposites assume different architectures depending on manufacturing process, e.g., paper-like structures received great success for supercapacitor application due to their outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity. Recently, a nacre-like architecture, named nanolaminate, attracted the attention of scientists since it should be considered as bulk material. There are several micromechanics models for the prediction of the elastic properties of nanocomposite materials, based on the geometry, orientation of the filler, elastic properties of the filler and matrix. The stiff constituent phases (graphene platelet) in the structural materials bonded together by the soft constituent phases result in the so-called brick-and-mortar (B-and-M) structure. The effect of filler properties will be discussed by considering the analytical and numerical procedures available in literature for bidimensional filler composites. Several critical physical mechanisms may affect the reinforcing effects, including the agglomeration, stacking up, and rolling up of graphene sheets.

Two types of basalt fibre reinforced epoxy laminates were realized by overlapping flat and twill woven basalt fabrics by resin infusion. Rectangular specimens, cut from the panels were impacted at penetration and at increasing energy values, to investigate the damage onset and propagation. A non-destructive technique, Ultrasound testing (UT), was adopted to investigate the internal damage. Despite the difficulties to obtain information by UT method due to the high amount of signal absorbed, the technique, properly calibrated, proved to be very useful in providing information about the presence, the shape and the extent of the delaminations. The results were compared at the aim to investigate the effect of the fiber architecture (textile). The experimental results indicate a similar impact behavior between basalt flat and twill composites but in the case of the twill a minor delaminated area was detected, even if a higher absorbed energy was recordedTwo types of basalt fibre reinforced epoxy laminates were realized by overlapping flat and twill woven basalt fabrics by resin infusion. Rectangular specimens, cut from the panels were impacted at penetration and at increasing energy values, to investigate the damage onset and propagation. A non-destructive technique, Ultrasound testing (UT), was adopted to investigate the internal damage. Despite the difficulties to obtain information by UT method due to the high amount of signal absorbed, the technique, properly calibrated, proved to be very useful in providing information about the presence, the shape and the extent of the delaminations. The results were compared at the aim to investigate the effect of the fiber architecture (textile). The experimental results indicate a similar impact behavior between basalt flat and twill composites but in the case of the twill a minor delaminated area was detected, even if a higher absorbed energy was recorded

Woven basalt fiber composite laminates based on epoxy and polypropylene (PP) resins were dynamically loaded by a falling weight machine, by using a cylindrical impactor with a hemispherical nose. Laminates with the same thickness were investigated to compare their dynamic response. 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 to study the influence of the matrix on the damage start and propagation. A general better behavior of epoxy basalt fibre reinforced plates (BFRP) was noted while, surprisingly, the polypropylene based laminates didn’t show any penetration even at high impact energy highlighting the importance of this study.

To improve the impact behaviour of composite laminates and to reduce the problem of the complex damages after dynamic loads, a two-component commercial epoxy resin was modified with a commercial nitrile liquid rubber modified DGEBA epoxy prepolymer that, prior the cure, has been mechanically dispersed at two concentration levels (20%w/w; 30%w/w). Experimental characterization of both neat and modified resins was performed to investigate the effect of the rubber addition on the resin properties, i.e. glass transition temperature, modulus and dynamic mechanical characteristics. Further, the rubber domain distribution in the epoxy resin was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hybrid rubber modified resins did not show high viscosity allowing to manufacture E-glass fiber reinforced composites by vacuum infusion process. The laminates were characterized by tensile mechanical tests that evidenced an overall enhancement of maximum stress and deformation for the hybrid composites. In particular, results demonstrated an improvement of 10% for the shear failure stress and of 110% for the shear failure strain. Further, impact tests were carried out at penetration, to evaluate the improvement of the impact resistance over the conventional epoxy resin system, and at increasing energy levels, 5 J, 10 J and 20 J, to investigate the damage start and propagation. A higher indentation has been observed for the modified composite samples related with a lower delamination extension. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

The flammability behavior of an epoxy resin, modified by the addition of Posidonia Oceanica at three concentration levels (8%, 10%,12%), has been investigated by performing cone calorimeter tests. The plant has been preliminary dried and milled to obtain a powder with average size of 0.08 micron, then has been dispersed within the resin prior the cure. Scanning electron microscopy both on the Posidonia and the hybrid composites has been carried out to verify the dispersion and the action mechanism of plant within the resin. Results from cone calorimeter tests showed that the incorporation of Posidonia Oceanica significantly affect the flammability of the epoxy resin by a strong reduction of PHHR up to 52%.The flammability behavior of an epoxy resin, modified by the addition of Posidonia Oceanica at three concentration levels (8%, 10%,12%), has been investigated by performing cone calorimeter tests. The plant has been preliminary dried and milled to obtain a powder with average size of 0.08 micron, then has been dispersed within the resin prior the cure. Scanning electron microscopy both on the Posidonia and the hybrid composites has been carried out to verify the dispersion and the action mechanism of plant within the resin. Results from cone calorimeter tests showed that the incorporation of Posidonia Oceanica significantly affect the flammability of the epoxy resin by a strong reduction of PHHR up to 52%.

The damage resistance of a fibre reinforced composite materials subjected to a concentrated indentation force has been investigated. Composite samples were manufactured by vacuum infusion process and then tested according to the concentrated quasi-static indentation test standard (QSI). The composite coupons were sensorized with embedded Bragg grating fibres in various positions, to monitor the indentation-induced deformations during the loading event. Numerical simulations, performed by using a commercial FEM software, were carried out and predictions results compared with experimental data. Final results showed that Bragg wavelength changes sensitively depending on the applied quasi-static forces and it identifies correctly the non-linear pattern of the force–displacement curve. It was determined that strain transfer to the Bragg fibre is strongly influenced by the embedding conditions and final location of the optoelectronic sensors in term of shifting and in-plane rotation. Comparison between simulated and experimental data showed some discrepancy mainly due to the displacement of the embedded fibre sensors from their original location, caused by the manufacturing. However, by an inverse procedure based on iso-strain curves both shifting and rotation of the FBG sensors respect to their original position could be evaluated. This work confirms that although Bragg fibres are effective and reliable to monitor deformations of composite elements during an impact event but unwanted and unpredictable effects, due to manufacturing, should be carefully taking into account to analyse correctly the sensor signal and quantitatively evaluate the inter-laminar strains.

SUMMARY The fire behavior and the smoke emission of an unsaturated polyester resin modified by the addition of three phosphorus-based fire-retardant materials (ammonium polyphosphate (APP), silane-coated APP, and melamine pyrophosphate) at two concentration levels (20% w/w, 35% w/w) have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and optical microscopy analysis have been performed to verify the dispersion and the action mechanism of additives within the resin. Results from cone calorimetric tests demonstrated that the incorporation of the fire retardants at 35% w/w has a strong effect on flammability and smoke suppressant properties with respect to both the neat resin and the loaded systems at 20% (w/w). In particular, the smoke formation and smoke parameters are reduced by 50% and 80%, respectively, leading to the conclusion that APP can be used single-handedly without combination with specific smoke suppressors. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the ability of two different interferometric NDT techniques to detect and evaluate barely visible impact damage on composite laminates. The interferometric techniques allow to investigate large and complex structures. Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) works through real-time surface illumination by visible laser (i.e. 532 nm) and the range and the accuracy are related to the wavelength. While the ESPI works with the "classic" holographic configuration, that is reference beam and object beam, the Shearography uses the object image itself as reference: two object images are overlapped creating a shear image. This makes the method much less sensitive to external vibrations and noise but with one difference, it measures the first derivative of the displacement. In this work, different specimens at different impact energies have been investigated by means of both methods. The delaminated areas have been estimated and compared. © 2016 Author(s).

The aim of this paper is to investigate the ability of different NDT techniques to detect and evaluate barely visible and non-visible impact damage on composite laminates. Firstly, a conventional ultrasound technique was adopted to investigate the delamination in carbon fibre laminates after low velocity impact s. Then the results were compared with a thermographic and holographic analysis, as well as a theoretical simulation of the expected delamination. The results were compared and discussed. Overall a good agreement was found between the data obtained by the different techniques. Furthermore, the true values of the damage parameters were confirmed by DT performed on the samples. © 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Epoxy/carbon fiber composites have been manufactured by Pulse Infusion. Pulse Infusion allows to control the pressure of the vacuum bag on the dry fiber reinforcement by using a proper designed pressure distributor that induces a pulsed transverse action and promotes the through thickness resin flow. The adopted one-component commercial epoxy resin has been preliminary modified by adding 0.05% (w/w) of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, in order to take advantage of carbon nanotubes at low concentration. Both neat and hybrid realized composite panels have been mechanically characterized by performing experimental tests to evaluate tensile, interlaminar, and fracture properties in order to investigate the effect of Pulse Infusion and carbon nanotubes on the mechanical and fracture behavior of composites. Results demonstrated an improvement of 36.2% for the interlaminar shear strength, of 35% for the fracture energy at the crack initiation and of 14% for the fracture toughness in mode II. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2254–2260, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

In this work, the application of Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) is employed for inspecting composite materials subject to thermal load. The composite samples are of interest in the aerospace industry. Through realtime surface illumination by visible laser (i.e. 532 nm), the ESPI technique allows the non-contact, non-destructive, full frame and real time detection of micro-deformations, micro-cracks, residual stress and delamination. The evaluation of the effective delaminated area of damaged polymer/Carbon Nanotubes fiber reinforced composites after flexural tests is presented. © 2014 IEEE.

Carbon fibre composites were subjected to low velocity impact tests. The scope was to investigate the response of laminates fabricated by a new vacuum assisted technology, labelled as “pulse infusion”, under dynamic loads. At this aim, experimental tests up to complete penetration and at a different energy levels, were carried out. Some of the specimens were destined to CAI tests and the residual strength was evaluated. All the parameters involved in the phenomenon, like penetration energy and indentation depths, were studied to validate existing semi empirical models. By the comparison with results from literature, good agreements were found denoting the efficiency of the new fabrication method.

Ultra sound technique (US), thermography and holography were adopted to investigate the delamination in carbon fibre laminates after low velocity impact loads. The scope was to investigate the ability of new tools in giving information about internal damage on composites. The carbon laminates were fabricated by a new vacuum assisted technology, labelled as “pulsed infusion”. The efficiency of this innovative fabrication technology was studied too, comparing the delamination extensions with the measurements from literature on impacted autoclave cured laminates.

Epoxy/Kevlar composites have been manufactured by conventional Vacuum Infusion process and the Pulse Infusion technique. Pulse Infusion allows to control the pressure of the vacuum bag on the dry fiber reinforcement by using a proper designed pressure distributor that induces a pulsed transverse action and promotes the through thickness resin flow. The realized composite panel have been mechanically characterized by performing tensile and short beam shear tests according with the ASTM D3039 and ASTM D2344/D 2344M standard respectively in order to investigate the effect of Pulse Infusion on the tensile strength and ILSS. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

A new innovative infusion technology, pulsed infusion, has been developed for the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced thermoset-based composites. Pulsed infusion is a double-bag vacuum infusion process that is based on the use of a proper designed reusable pressure distributor and able to better control the vacuum pressure in pulsed way. Thus, the transverse resin flow through the dry fiber reinforcement is promoted and a better adhesion between the resin and the fibers is achieved. The new process allows to obtain laminates with the same fiber volume fraction and tensile properties of those produced by conventional infusion technologies. An average increase up to 9% for the flexural modulus and up to 24% for flexural strength has been assessed for pulse-manufactured composites compared to traditional vacuum infusion ones. Furthermore, due to a minor consumption of resin and the absence of the distribution net, pulse infusion provides a material cost-saving advantage around 19% and a significant waste reduction.

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by a high relapse rate, with the majority of patients developing chemo-resistance and ultimately dying of the disease with a 5-year survival rate of 40% (Faderl et al., 2010). Significant advances, however, have been made in cases carrying the acquired genetic alteration BCR-ABL (ALL-Ph+) targeted by tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (Ottmann & Pfeifer, 2009). Therefore, several studies have recently been carried out to look for additional, therapeutically exploitable, genetic lesions. Aberrant activation of signal transduction pathways (STP) implicated in proliferation and survival mechanisms are generally involved in leukemogenesis and drug resistance (Zhao et al., 2010). Genes in the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR, RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, and Jak/STAT pathways are frequently mutated and their expression is often altered in hematopoietic malignancies, including ALL (McCubrey et al., 2011; Steelman et al. 2008). In addition, deregulation of survival mechanisms may confer chemo-resistance to leukemic cells, particularly involving alterations of the Bcl-2 signaling cascade, which may represent one of the most important, potentially druggable, pathways for therapeutic intervention in ALL. Starting from our studies on chemo-resistance in ALL, particularly on multidrug resistance (MDR1) expression and prognostic significance, in this chapter we will illustrate the major pathways aberrantly activated in ALL - PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR, RAF/RAS/MEK/ERK, and the Bcl-2 family of proteins - with the ultimate goal of summarizing novel targets for molecular therapies, especially in resistant/refractory cases. Controversies on and potential benefits of novel approaches based on STP inhibitors will be discussed. Epigenetic changes will be examined to address their importance in association with post-translational modifications. Future perspectives will encompass review of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) as a promising new tool for translational studies in clinical sample series, helping define the functional proteomic profile at steady-state; this approach may lead to the identification of aberrant molecular target(s), possibly guiding the choice of specific molecular therapies, on one hand, and leading to the elucidation of post-treatment changes, on the other, with the overall objective of improving the strategies currently employed to counteract leukemia chemo- and targeted drug-resistance.