Giulia Fredi

The thesis deals with the production and characterization of polyamide6-based thermoplastic composites produced by thermoplastic resin transfer molding (tRTM) and in situ anionic polymerization. The work aims to study the thermomechanical properties of the composites as a function of the processing parameters (temperature, concentration of activator and initiator) and the type and concentration of reinforcing fibers (carbon, kevlar, basalt, polyamide). 

This thesis project aims to optimize the production of nanochitin fibers through wet spinning. While high-quality nanochitin solutions will be obtained through an ongoing sceintific collaboration, the student will focus on establishing and refining a wet spinning apparatus, systematically exploring the effects of various spinning parameters on fiber formation and properties. These parameters include extrusion rate, coagulation bath composition, drawing ratio, and drying conditions. Through rigorous mechanical testing and morphological studies using techniques such as SEM, the student will characterize the produced fibers, with a particular emphasis on their mechanical properties. The research aims to elucidate the intricate relationships between spinning parameters and fiber performance. This project is expected to yield an optimized wet spinning process, a comprehensive understanding of parameter-property relationships in nanochitin fibers, and a set of well-characterized, high-performance fibers. The outcomes of this research have potential applications in fields ranging from biomedical engineering to environmental remediation, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable and advanced materials.

This thesis, the result of a collaboration with the company Bioniks srl (Verona, Italy), aims to study materials derived from fermented beverage production waste. The material, called SCOBY (from Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), consists mainly of bacterial nanocellulose. Its properties strongly depend on its microstructure, which in turn is closely related to the production processing parameters. The purpose of the work is the characterization of various samples of SCOBY provided by Bioniks srl, in order to deepen the understanding of their physical-mechanical properties and correlate them with their microstructure, so as to identify promising fields of application.

The work involves the experimental and numerical investigation of the pultrusion process of reactive thermoplastic matrix composites. The thesis is part of the INFRALight collaborative project, whose objective is to develop a light rail infrastructure on piles consisting of composite material rails for the circulation of very light autonomous shuttles.

The thesis work will be performed at the Institut Clément Ader (ICA) at the IMT Mines Albi site (Albi, Tarn, France), in collaboration with prof. Olivier De Almeida.