Towards green carbon fibre manufacturing from waste cotton: a microstructural and physical property investigation

The work presents the usefulness of cotton fibre waste as a source of carbon fibre (CF) by pyrolysis. Different pyrolysis temperatures were studied to assess the surface and structural changes during carbonisation. The structural and surface modification of fibres during carbonisation was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Low-pressure plasma employed for surface functionalization treatment in presence of oxygen was conducted. The surface modification was analysed and compared by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle analysis. Carbon fibre structural strength was studied using nanoindentation. The carbon fibres before and after functionalization revealed a significant change in surface hydrophilicity. In nanoindentation, the maximum displacement of carbon fibre produced at 400 °C is higher when compared to treatment of 600 °C and 800 °C, for identical applied load, revealing lower resistance to applied load, while the carbon fibre produced at 600 °C has the least displacement, i.e. higher resistance to applied load. Enhancement of material strength (through resistance to applied load) after surface functionalization is evidenced for the case of carbon fibre produced at 400 °C and no effect for carbon fibre (both plain and functionalized) produced at 800 °C

Adhesivejoiningtechnologiesactivatedbyelectro-magnetic external trims

Joining is a key and fundamental aspect of vehicle design and manufacturing process.The development of efficient, simple, inexpensive and reversible adhesive bonding technologies offers low cost, improved life cycle and recycling solutions for a vehicle. This innovative technology is based on magneto sensitive nanoparticles dispersed into the adhesive. Different typologies of susceptors, embedded in thermoplastic hot-melt adhesives, have been tested to investigate the thermal behavior of these innovative materials when exposed to electromagnetic fields. These innovative technologies are intended to optimize the bonding process offering new opportunities connected with costruction, improved resistance to applied loads, easy and rapid dismantling and smart recycling. Experimental procedures to optimize the electromagnetic process have been performed. Results about both shear strength and sliding temperature of the modified adhesives are presented

Towards green carbon fibre manufacturing from waste cotton: a microstructural and physical property investigation

The work presents the usefulness of cotton fibre waste as a source of carbon fibre (CF) by pyrolysis. Different pyrolysis temperatures were studied to assess the surface and structural changes during carbonisation. The structural and surface modification of fibres during carbonisation was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Low-pressure plasma employed for surface functionalization treatment in presence of oxygen was conducted. The surface modification was analysed and compared by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle analysis. Carbon fibre structural strength was studied using nanoindentation. The carbon fibres before and after functionalization revealed a significant change in surface hydrophilicity. In nanoindentation, the maximum displacement of carbon fibre produced at 400 °C is higher when compared to treatment of 600 °C and 800 °C, for identical applied load, revealing lower resistance to applied load, while the carbon fibre produced at 600 °C has the least displacement, i.e. higher resistance to applied load. Enhancement of material strength (through resistance to applied load) after surface functionalization is evidenced for the case of carbon fibre produced at 400 °C and no effect for carbon fibre (both plain and functionalized) produced at 800 °C

A simple route toward next-gen green energy storage concept by nanofibres-based self-supporting electrodes and a solid polymeric design

A novel, unique, truly-solid Li-ion cell structural design, based on LiFePO4/graphite electrodes and profoundly ionic conducting polymer electrolyte, is fabricated by exploiting, for the first time, carbonised cellulose nanofibrils as both the conductive binder and the current collector substrate. Moreover, cellulose nanofibrils are used as reinforcing additive for the preparation of the unconventional composite polymer electrolyte separator. The resulting solid polymeric lab-scale Li-ion cell, assembled in a "pouch cell" envelop, shows remarkably stable characteristics upon prolonged cycling at ambient temperature even at high current regimes. By the way, a simple procedure, easily scalable, is optimized for the spray coating and water-based papermaking. As a result, all components can be fully recovered at the end of the cell operational life by taking advantage of a simple water-based paper recycling technique, opening new horizons for the manufacture of sustainable electrochemical energy storage device