Hybridization effect on mechanical properties of short basalt/jute fiber-reinforced polyester composites

Mechanical properties of fiber reinforcement that can be obtained by the introduction of basalt fibers in jute fiber-reinforced polyester composites have been analyzed experimentally. Basalt/jute fiber-reinforced hybrid polymer composites were fabricated with a varying fiber percentage by using compression molding techniques. The fabricated composite plates were subjected to mechanical testing to estimate tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of the composites. The effect of fiber content on basalt/jute fiber in the composites has been studied. Addition of jute fiber into basalt fiber composite makes it a cost-effective one. Incorporation of basalt fiber into the composites was at approximately 10%, 20%, up to 90%, and the jute fiber percentage was reduced from 90%, 80%, to 10% correspondingly. Mechanical properties were investigated as per ASTM standards. Tensile and flexural strengths were tested by using a computer-assisted universal testing machine, and impact strength by using an Izod impact tester. It has been observed that the addition of jute fiber to the basalt fiber polyester composites enhanced the mechanical properties. Water absorption of hybrid composites was also analyzed and was found to be proportional to fiber percentage.