Green composites and nanocomposites for aerospace applications

The aerospace sector has always been highly advanced because of the stringent requirements for its severe conditions, which are still pushing both the academic and industrial world toward the development of high-performing materials and robust and reliable processing technologies. Undoubtedly, the materials specifically designed for aerospace applications have to exhibit high thermal stability and thermal resistance, lightness, very good mechanical properties, and high environmental resistance. Besides, the setup of these aerospace materials requires the design of specific processes, which allow fabricating parts and components suitable for the aerospace environment. This way, the scientific theories and technologies applied to aerospace materials have undergone a rapid development, from the design of macro to micro composites, to the use of nanostructured systems, especially in the last 10–15 years. Consequently, it is now possible to exploit new efficient strategies for producing high-performing materials for such harsh environments as space. Quite recently, also as a consequence of the spread of the sustainability concept, which has already interested other application fields (i.e., transportation, civil engineering, medicine, packaging, among others), aerospace started to experience the development of several new materials and nanomaterials that can be accomplished with this “green” concept. This chapter basically aims at summarizing the present state-of-the-art of the design and manufacturing of low environmental impact composites and nanocomposites for aerospace applications at the macro, micro, and nanoscale, highlighting the current limitations and discussing some possible future developments.