Manufacturing of an innovative composite structure: Design, manufacturing and impact behaviour

Basalt-epoxy laminates are establishing gradually in engineering sectors due to increasing attention toward environmental matters. Some properties should be improved to extend their applications and the cold spray (CS) metallization provides a potential solution. Unfortunately, the fragile nature of thermosetting polymers makes it difficult the CS coating formation and grow-up. Therefore, this research work aims to study an innovative solution able to enhance the adhesion mechanisms between the cold sprayed metal particles and the thermosetting polymer-based substrates. For this purpose, an original manufacturing method that provides the surface PLA treatment for thermosetting samples was developed. AlSi10Mg particles were cold sprayed on the treated surface, and the low-velocity impact behaviour of the metallised hybrid structures was analysed in details. The outcomes prove the effectiveness of the method proposed on the deposition process and the beneficial effects of metallization on impact damage mechanisms.