Influence of heat treatment and water absorption on mechanical properties of cotton-glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites: An eco-friendly approach for industrial materials

Abstract

The effect of the heat treatment and the water absorption of the glass-fiber and recycled cotton fabric-reinforced hybrid composites on the mechanical and physical characteristics were examined in the research. The heat treatment at 80 °C significantly improved G-C-G's tensile as well as flexural strengths by 21% and 28%, respectively. However, due to the improved bonding among the matrix and fiber, G-C-G layer fiber hybrid composites performed better mechanical characteristics than the other alternative composite layers. However, after water absorption, the tensile, and flexural strength of all types of composites diminished from the as-cast samples. In this instance, the flexural and tensile strengths of the G-C-G hybrid composites decreased by 12.87% and 19.11%, respectively, and the bonding between the fiber and matrix degraded was evaluated by SEM images. The maximum amount of water absorption (23.15%) is found for C–C–C composites due to the porosity presented in the cotton fiber. The study evaluated optimal ratios of glass fiber to cotton-reinforced composites, considering both practical and financial aspects. In this case, the G-G-G composites always show better mechanical properties, but the variation among the strength of G-G-G as well as G-C-G is marginal. G-C-G fiber-based hybrid materials are more acceptable because of their affordable cost as well as biodegradable properties than G-G-G composites. Cotton/glass fiber reinforced composites have been proposed as an alternative to appealing elements in the building, automotive, and textile industries.