Mechanical characterization of hybrid composites based on flax, basalt and glass fibers

Abstract

An experimental study on tensile, flexural and impact properties of flax-basalt-glass reinforced epoxy hybrid composites is presented in this paper. Test specimens were fabricated by vacuum bagging process. The effects of reinforcement hybridization, fiber relative amounts and stacking sequence on the mechanical properties were investigated. Morphological studies of the fabricated and fractured surfaces through thickness were performed using scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the developed hybrid composites display enhanced tensile, flexural and impact performance as compared with flax reinforced epoxy composite. The flexural strength increases when partial laminas from flax/epoxy laminate are replaced by basalt/epoxy and/or glass/epoxy laminas. Also, it is realized that incorporating high-strength fibers, i.e. glass or basalt, to the outer layers of the composite leads to higher flexural resistance, whilst the opposite was noticed for tensile properties. The fabricated hybrids were found to have economical and specific mechanical properties benefits. Fiber-relative amounts and stacking sequence have great effects on the mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of hybrid laminates are proven to be highly dependent on the position of the flax layers within the hybrid composite. The Hybridization with basalt and/or glass fibers is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of flax/epoxy composites.