The Effect of Hybridizing Natural Fibers and Adding Montmorillonite Nanoparticles on the Impact and Bending Properties of Eco‐Friendly Metal/Composite Laminates

Abstract

This study aims to fabricate eco‐friendly fiber metal laminates (FMLs) with acceptable flexural and impact properties. For this reason, the jute and basalt fibers are hybridized into the epoxy matrix and then sandwiched between 2024 aluminum layers. After that, various contents of montmorillonite nanoparticles are dispersed in these structures to enhance these mechanical properties. To characterize the effect of hybridizing fibers and incorporating nanoparticles, macrostructural and microstructural investigations are performed. In hybrid structures, the highest flexural and impact properties are achieved, when the basalt layers are placed as exterior layers of the composite core. However, in the FMLs containing nanoclay particles, the FMLs with the 1.5 or 3 wt% nanoclay have an acceptable improvement in the mechanical properties, which relates to the exfoliated or intercalated structure of nanoclay. Creating nanocomposite interlocks on the surface of aluminum layers, enhancing the adhesion bonding at the interface of metal/composite, and improving the adhesion between jute or basalt fibers with the epoxy matrix are the distinct improving mechanisms, which are characterized by macro‐ and microstructural methods.