Auxetic materials differ from the conventional one because they possess as a main feature a negative Poisson’s ratio. Consequently, they possess an unusual behaviour: when tensioned longitudinally its cross section increases. This behaviour makes them interesting for applications in many areas where the impact energy absorption and resistance to cutting, drilling and abrasion are important factors, including protective clothing in various fields, military equipment, ballistic materials, acoustic insulation, protection systems against explosives, among others.
This project aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge on the production, testing and behaviour of auxetic fibrous structures based on weft knits and in their combination with polymer matrices. Therefore, in addition to developing meshes with this behaviour, it was intended studying the transfer of this property to composite materials reinforced by them.
This project was carried out under the framework of the PhD studies of Fernanda Steffens under the guidance of Professor Raul Fangueiro.
