Fibre-based Composites & Interfaces

The Fibre-based Composites & Interfaces (FCI) group addresses the development of lightweight composites materials. Our aim is to develop these new materials by focusing both on their sustainability and recycling and an unparalleled performance in terms of weight/mechanical properties while optimizing the core aspect of composite materials: fibre / matrix interfaces. The entire development chain is taken into consideration, from the engineering of materials to their manufacture via design stage optimization and functional tests. Materials classes of interest include reinforcing synthetic and natural fibres, high-performance thermoplastics and thermosets materials and functional hybrid organic thin coatings/sizing to tailor the interface performances.

Main expertise fields

Our activities encompass the characterization, design and development of sustainable fibre-reinforced polymer composites with special focus on performance tailoring of interfaces / interphases and natural fibres.

Sustainable fibres reinforced composites materials:

Natural fibres reinforced composites
Hierarchical fibres
Bioinspired composites materials

Functional interfaces (surface and interface engineering):

Adhesion (fibre-matrix adhesion and compatibilization of composite constituents, fibre/filament/tape surface activation and chemical treatment, adhesion promotion, nanostructured interphases) and deadhesion (debonding on demand)
Interface durability
Thermal & electrical management
Responsive interfaces
Self-healing coatings

Composites characterization and analysis:

In-situ characterization of constituents & interfaces
Surface characterization
Filament/tape/coupon testing
Full-field strain measurement (Digital Image Correlation)
Microstructural analysis and fractography (SEM, Computed Microtomography)

Research and innovation challenges

Development of innovative interfacial layers in high performances FRP composites
Development of bioinspired composites materials by mimicking the structure found in the Nature
Development of fully bio-based fibers reinforced polymer composites materials including surface treatment approaches to promote adhesion, integrity and functionality of fibre-matrix interfaces.
Development of structural disassembly and debonding on-demand, as well as recycling routes for composites.
Development of experimental techniques to characterize interfaces/interphases of composites and connect the nano/micro information to the macro behaviour of composites

Application areas

Automotive, aeronautics, aerospace, building and textile sectors

Replacement of synthetic fibres by natural fibres for high performance composites applications
Interfacial layers in high performance CFRP composites
Interphases with (coupled) mechanical, thermal, electrical, debonding capabilities
Reuse/repair/recycling of composites materials
Innovative joining of hybrid systems / dissimilar materials

Main assets

NFRP composites materials
Eco-friendly coatings dedicated to fibre-matrix compatibilization of thermoplastic/thermosets with carbon/glass/natural fibres (thermal resistance, moisture absorption)
Adhesion promoters for metal/polymer assembling
Antistatic thermoplastic composite
Thermal dissipative thermoplastic composite
Functional barrier Coatings (fire, gas, bacteria, water)
Debonding-on demand solutions
Self-healable polymer composites
Advanced multi-scale and multi technique characterization methodologies