• Automotive sector
• Bio composites
• Bio resins
• Bio-based thermoset
• Natural fiber
• Vacuum bagging

The purpose of this thesis is to develop the production of bio-based thermoset fiber reinforced composites. In particular, this study investigates the feasibility of replacing traditional fossil-based epoxy resins and curing agents with bio-based ones and traditional glass fibers with natural fibers in order to obtain innovative materials for the automotive sector.
Many trials were carried-out with different types of resins and hardeners to select the best one in terms of thermo-mechanical proprieties.
The most promising formulation was used to produce natural fiber composites through vacuum bagging process.
Characterization of both resins and natural fibers was done through mechanical and thermal tests, also comparing them with petro-based resins and glass fiber used as reference.
The final mechanical proprieties of the composites were evaluated by tensile and bending tests and their morphology was investigated by SEM analysis.