The fire performances of small telecom halogen-free cables were measured using cone calorimeter by changing several test conditions (heat flux, number and spacing of cables) and cable properties (sheath thickness and insulation mass). An analytical phenomenological fitting was proposed to predict accurately main fire performances (time-to-ignition, peaks of heat release rate and time to peak of heat release rate) from a set of 42 tests. The phenomenological model also assesses quantitatively the influence of different test conditions and cable properties. It appears that time-to-ignition is only dependent on heat flux. Moreover the influence of sheath is pointed out to delay the occurrence of the main peak of heat release rate corresponding to the decomposition of non-flame retarded insulation. The fitting allows better predicting the fire hazard in case of cables burning.

As most thermoset material, phenolic molding compound (PMC) wastes are an environmental problem. Very few recycling solutions have been proposed so far for this type of material. A mechanical recycling method to valorize these materials is proposed in this work. It relies on the use of phenolic waste as filler in thermoplastic. Such phenolic filler can increase mechanical properties (tensile, flexural) of the matrix, and be used in substitution of traditional particulate fillers such as calcium carbonate or talc. In this study, several morphological parameters influencing the final mechanical properties of a PMC-filled polypropylene (PP) micro-composite are studied, such as filler loading rate, particles size distribution of the filler, and interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix. Some structural parameters are also studied and linked with mechanical properties, such as dispersion of the filler and crystallinity of the matrix. Finally, the properties of PMC-filled PP are compared with CaCO 3 -and talc-filled PP.

This work is focused on the modification of the interphase zone in short flax fibres / polypropylene (PP) com-posites by a bio-inspired modification of fibres called "nanostructuration" that uses the adsorption of biomass by-products, i.e. cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and xyloglucan (XG), to create hierarchical flax fibres. The wettability and interfacial adhesion study reveals a strong decrease in the polar character of CNC modified flax fibres, hence increasing the work of adhesion with PP. Moreover, combining XG/CNC modified interphases with MAPP coupling agent enhances the ultimate mechanical properties of biocomposites with higher tensile strength and work of rupture, and modifies failure mechanisms as revealed by in situ micro-mechanical tensile SEM experi-ments. Bio-based hierarchical composites inspired by naturally occurring nanostructures open a new path for the development of sustainable composites with enhanced structural properties.