Sustainable energy composites materials

The automotive industry is the prime driver of green composites because the industry is faced with issues for which green materials offer a solution [69]. Many components for the automotive sector are now made from natural fibre composite materials [70]. Natural fibres have intrinsic properties like mechanical strength, low weight and low cost, ecological sustainability, low energy requirements for... 

Presently there is a huge potential market for recyclable, energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly composite materials. The utilization of natural fiber can thus lead to the reduction of waste disposal problems and environmental pollution. These NFC find applications in various engineering, electronic and automotive fields once the issues such as moisture sensitivity, compatibility, dispersion are addressed in a proper way. Green, environmentally friendly, sustainable, renewable, biodegradable, composites from natural fibers are most desired materials for future. 

Abstract This chapter will discuss advances in the properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced synthetic fibre/polymer composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. 

Introduction current use of composite materials in sustainable energy technology... 

There are several firms that specialise in producing composite materials for machinery to generate sustainable energy these include Advanced Composite Group (ACG, now Cytec), Gurit and Hexcel. 

As with advanced polymer composite, a nanocomposite is formed from the combination of two or more materials however, one of the materials has nanoscale (< 100 nm) dimensions. Nanoparticles can be classified into three categories depending on the number of their nanoscale dimensions (i) nano-spheres (ii) nano-fibres and (iii) nano-plates, having three, two and one nanoscale dimension, respectively, Thostenson et al. (2005). Paul and Robeson (2008) have given a comprehensive review of nanoparticles. Only nano-fibres and nano-plates will be mentioned in this chapter, as these are relevant to possible structures concerned with sustainable energy. 

Manufacture of FRP composite materials for sustainable energy technologies... 

The following processing methods of synthetic libre/matrix composite materials have been used in sustainable energy technologies and are referred to where necessary. 

This chapter could not have been written without the help of manufacturing firms concerned with composite materials and structural components made from those materials which are associated with the field of sustainable energy. These firms include ACG/Cytec, Derbyshire, UK Gurit, Isle of Wight, UK Solent Composite Systems, Isle of Wight, UK Wind Power, Ltd., Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK Aviation Enterprise, Lambourn, UK Pulse Tidal Ltd., Sheffield, UK Marine Tlirbines, Bristol, UK Exxonmobil, Leatherhead, UK Grimshaw, Architects, London, UK the Reinforced Plastics Journal, Elsevier Publisher, Oxford. The author would like to express his thanks to the members of staff of these firms for their invaluable help. 

Abstract This chapter will introduce advances in properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced polymer/fibre composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. Chapter 19 discussed the various methods of transferring wind, tidal, wave and solar energies into electrical power and this chapter will show how advanced composites are utilised in these various machines. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. Finally, the future trends of sustainable energy systems and the role that polymers and polymer/fibre composites will have in their manufacture/fabrication will be evaluated. 

---