The Hybridization Effects of Glass and Carbon Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Mat/Epoxy Composites

Kenaf mat/epoxy composite possesses low mechanical properties. The investigation examined the hybridization impact on the mechanical performance of kenaf mat/carbon/epoxy and kenaf mat/glass/epoxy hybrid composites. Pure and hybrid composites were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin infusion method. Density, tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear, and fracture toughness (Mode II) properties were tested according to the ASTM standards. The results showed that density increased around 10% for kenaf mat/carbon/epoxy hybrid and 29% for kenaf mat/glass/epoxy hybrid compared to pure kenaf mat/epoxy composites. Kenaf mat/carbon/epoxy hybrid composites displayed approximately 529%, 497%, 512%, 1055%, 272%, and 443% improvement in the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and fracture toughness, respectively, compared to the pure kenaf mat/epoxy composite. Kenaf mat/glass/epoxy hybrid composites displayed approximately 467%, 275%, 405%, 413%, 232%, and 366% improvement in the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, ILSS, and fracture toughness, respectively, compared to the pure kenaf mat/epoxy composite. Although the carbon fiber volume fraction was the lowest (17.23%) in hybrid kenaf mat/carbon/epoxy composites compared to glass fiber (24.83%) in hybrid kenaf mat/glass/epoxy composites, the tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear performance was higher in hybrid kenaf mat/carbon/epoxy composites than hybrid kenaf mat/glass/epoxy composites.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of hybridization on the mechanical properties of kenaf mat/epoxy composites. The results showed significant improvements in tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear, and fracture toughness properties for both carbon and glass fiber hybrid composites compared to the pure kenaf mat/epoxy composite. The carbon fiber hybrid composites performed better in tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear performance compared to the glass fiber hybrid composites, despite having a lower fiber volume fraction.