Mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites: a review

Abstract

Polymer composites have become one of the most important domains in recent times for researchers. It is due to the fact that polymer composites possess better strength-to-weight ratio than the most of the conventional alloys and composites which are in use today for structural applications. Moreover, the researchers are also coming up with novel hybrid polymer composites so as to achieve the desired mechanical properties. Therefore, this review on hybrid polymer composites focuses on the mechanical properties like impact, flexural and tensile strengths of hybrid polymer composites so as to bring out the essence of their mechanical behaviour which are influenced by critical factors like selection of type, orientation and arrangement of reinforcements in polymer matrix composites. This detailed review is an endeavour to unfold the major aspects of this domain as research gaps which are untouched till date. The study shows that there is limited use of fillers (such as red mud and fly ash) and natural fibres (abaca, bamboo, ramie, coir, pineapple) in hybrid polymer composites to harness their full potential. It is also inferred from the study that there is a dearth of research pertinent to modelling, prediction and optimisation of mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites like toughness, flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength.