"Renewable and Sustainable Composites" ed. by António Pereira, Fabio Fernandes

This book focuses on composites from natural and renewable resources, including the enhancement of their properties with additives such as biodegradable nanomaterials, their mechanical characterisation, tailoring of properties for specific applications and their processing.

Composites are used in a wide range of applications, from electronics to the aeronautical industry. The excellent mechanical properties and low-specific weight of composites are the basis of many structural applications. Despite the progress achieved, there are significant obstacles to the generalisation of structural applications of composites, mainly due to their high cost and complex mechanical behaviour. In fact, there is currently insufficient knowledge regarding the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of composites made from renewable and sustainable materials.


Contents
1.Introductory Chapter: The Importance of Composites in the World
2.Fiber-Matrix Relationship for Composites Preparation
3.Scanning Probe Microscopy of Elastomers with Mineral Fillers
4.Methodologies for Achieving 1D ZnO Nanostructures Potential for Solar Cells
5.Biodegradable Chitosan Matrix Composite Reinforced with Titanium Dioxide for Biocidal Applications
6.Development of Efficient Composites via Renewable, Recyclable, and Degradable Additives
7.Improving the Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Composites for Structural and Biomedical Applications