The Effect of Use of Different Types of Matrix Material on Mechanical Characteristics in Jute/Carbon Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

Abstract

The use of natural fibers in the automotive industry as potentially renewable and environmentally friendly materials is increasing day by day. Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are also replacing traditional materials in the vehicle interior and exterior of the current automobile industry. This study focuses on the fabrication of hybrid composite materials reinforced with jute fibers and carbon fibers using two different thermoset resins such as epoxy and polyester. During this production, vacuum assisted resin transfer molding production technique was utilized. The hybrid composites were evaluated for tensile strength and hardness characterization. The surface morphology of the specimens broken after the mechanical tests were scrutinized using scanning electron microscopy. Results reveal that in the use of polyester resin in tensile strength, there is 3.29 times increase in hybrid structures compared to pure jute composites, and in the case of using epoxy resin there is 3.66 times increase in tensile strength. In the comparison of microhardness values, hybrid composites formed with jute/carbon fabric and polyester resin have a hardness value 1.6 times higher than structures with pure jute fabric and polyester resin. Hybrid composites formed with jute/carbon fabric and epoxy resin have 1.64 times higher hardness than the structure made with pure jute fabric and polyester resin. In the analysis of the surface morphology of the produced composite structures, it has been revealed that the mechanical features and physical characteristics give compatible results.