Effect of accelerated ageing on the mechanical behaviour of basalt/hemp hybrid composites

The remarkable concerns related to environmental pollution have triggered a lot of studies aimed at decreasing the environmental impact of polymer composites. A possible way to achieve this goal is the replacement of glass fibres with natural ones. In particular, lignocellulosic fibres are of considerable interest because they are renewable resources and are characterized by low cost, low density, thermal and acoustic insulation, biodegradability and recyclability. Despite these favourable attributes, cellulosic fibre reinforced composites do not provide mechanical properties comparable with those of glass fibre composites and, most importantly, their susceptibility to moisture absorption c…