Innovative nanostructured materials as cold-cured adhesive/matrix of FRP for strengthening of building structures

Thermosetting cold-cured resins are largely used as structural adhesives and/or matrix to manufacture and apply fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites employed inretrofitting technique. The slow development of their mechanical, adhesive and physical properties due to a cold-cure process represents a serious inconvenience in the repair procedures of large structures. Furthermore, the durability of these materials is still unclear, especially when they are outdoor exposed to common or harsh environmental conditions. These issues are likely to hamper the enormous potential of structural adhesives in construction field and their composites employed for strengthening and rehabilitation of infrastructures. The development of innovative nanostructured (hybrid) materials based on thermosetting (mainly epoxy) resins to be used as structural adhesives, and possibly as matrices for FRP composites, has been recently explored in the view to overcome some of the well-known drawbacks of traditional structural adhesives and matrices for construction industry. Some of the recent findings in this field will be illustrated.