Mechanical properties and microstructure of glass carbon hybrid composites

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, automobile, naval and aircraft structures are manufactured using composite materials reinforced with glass fiber, carbon fiber, etc., because of their high specific strength, good corrosion resistance, strength to weight ratio and applicability in saline environments. In this study, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass-carbon fiber reinforced plastic (GCFRP) laminated composites were manufactured by means of the hand layup process. Subsequently, a hole was drilled into each specimen of the above composites by means of conventional drilling and fine blanking and finally, the specimens were prepared as per ASTM standards D256, D790, D3039 and D 5868. A detailed study of the mechanical properties and micro-structure analysis of the above specimens and lap jointed specimen was carried out. It turned out that the tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength of glass carbon hybrid fiber reinforced plastic composite was significantly higher as compared to the glass fiber reinforced plastic composite due to lower fiber breakage and fiber pull out in the fine blanking of the GCFRP.