Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites Research Articles

Effect of halloysite addition on the dynamic mechanical and tribological properties of carbon and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites

Composite materials have become prominent in the aerospace, automotive, wind energy, biomedical, and machine tool industries. This has demanded the evaluation of the dynamic mechanical and tribological behaviour of composites to understand their performance and ensure their reliability and safety in varied operating conditions. In this study, the effect of halloysite nano-clay addition on the dynamic mechanical and tribological properties of the carbon/glass hybrid composites was investigated. The composites were produced with the vacuum assisted resin infusion process. by varying the content of halloysite nano-clay (1, 3, and 5 wt%). The dynamic mechanical properties of the manufactured composites were examined at temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 180 °C. The tribological properties of the specimens were assessed by varying the applied load (10, 20, and 30 N), sliding speed (1.5, 3, and 4.5 m/s) and sliding distance (500, 1000, and 1500 m). Box-Behnken design was utilized to optimize the number of experiments. The results showed that the halloysite-added samples had better dynamic mechanical and tribological properties than the carbon/glass hybrid composites. Especially, hybrid composites containing 3 wt% halloysite outperformed the other composites investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the worn surface and wreckage in the investigated composite specimens.

Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Characterization, Ranking and Water Absorption Behavior of RHA/WDA/RHAWDA Filled Epoxy Based Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

In the present research work, a novel class of epoxy built hybrid combinations strengthened with E-Glass woven rowed mat and occupied with rice husk ash (RHA), wood dust ash (WDA) and a mixture of RHA & WDA has been developed and structural mechanical properties were determined and the results were matched with the non-filled composites. The studies on these composites reveal that the tensile strength (TS) of the composites is decreased by the escalation in weight percentage of the filler material and the rest of the mechanical properties were increased with the increase in weightiness proportion of RHA, WDA and RHAWDA. TOPSIS and VIKOR’S ranking methods are applied to know the best composite from 16 alternative composites having 6 attributes. From the results, the composite filled with RHA at 5 wt% is selected as the best composite based on mechanical characteristics. Water absorption behavior of the composites at various time intervals for RHA, WDA and RHAWDA filled hybrid composites has been studied and it is concluded that the composites occupied with RHA at 12.5 wt% have given the minimum water absorption rate (WA) compared to other filled composites immersed in distilled and mineral waters and the composite filled with WDA at 2.5 wt% has exhibited the minimum water absorption rate (WA) when it is immersed in ground water for 144 hours of a time interval. Based on the results of water absorption rate (WA) and mechanical characteristics (impact strength and Vickers hardness) the composites filled with RHA at 5 wt% and RHA at 12.5 wt% can be used for the manufacturing of roof sheets and water tanks.

Flax-Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites Exposed to a Salt-Fog/Dry Cycle: A Simplified Approach to Predict Their Performance Recovery.

Despite natural fibers gaining significant attention in recent decades, their limited performance and poor durability under humid environments cannot allow them to fully replace their synthetic counterparts as reinforcement for structural composites. In such a context, this paper aims to investigate how exposure to a humid/dry cycle affects the mechanical response of epoxy laminates reinforced with flax and glass fibers. In particular, the main goal is to assess the performance evolution of a glass-flax hybridized stacking sequence in comparison with the full glass and flax fiber reinforced composites. To this end, the investigated composites were first exposed to salt-fog for 15 or 30 days and then to dry conditions (i.e., 50% R.H. and 23 °C) for up to 21 days. The presence of glass fibers in the stacking sequence significantly stabilizes the mechanical performance of composites during the humid/dry cycle. Indeed, hybridization of inner flax laminae with outer glass ones, acting as a protective shield, hinders the composite degradation due to the humid phase also promoting performance recovery during the dry phase. Hence, this work showed that a tailored hybridization of natural fibers with glass fibers represents a suitable approach to extend the service-life of natural fiber reinforced composites exposed to discontinuous humid conditions, thus allowing their employment in practical indoor and outdoor applications. Finally, a simplified theoretical pseudo-second-order model that aimed to forecast the performance recovery shown by composites was proposed and experimentally validated, highlighting good agreement with the experimental data.

Effect of graphene and MXene as 2D filler material on physico‐mechanical properties of hemp/E‐glass fibers reinforced hybrid composite: A comparative study

AbstractThe present study concentrates on the mechanical, morphological, water absorption and burning behavior of hemp/E‐glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites (FRHC). The surface adhesive characteristics of the acquired bi‐directional hemp fiber mats were enhanced by treating them with an alkali solution. Furthermore, the present work extends to identify the effects of two 2‐dimensional graphene and MXene nanoparticles as filler on the hardness, flexural and tensile behavior as well as water absorption and flammability characteristics of the FRHC. The glass fiber (G), hemp fiber (H), and hemp/glass (G/H) fiber reinforced epoxy LY556 laminates were fabricated by using the hand lay‐up method followed by the vacuum bagging approach. A 30% and 12% increase in the flexural and tensile strength of the H/G hybrid composite has been observed by adding 1% of graphene as an additional reinforcement compared with the neat FRHC. However, the use of MXene as additional reinforcements shows 45% and 10% enhancement in the flexural and tensile strength of the H/G hybrid composite. In addition, the water absorption capacity of MXene‐filled G/H hybrid composites is found to be almost half of that filled with graphene. Similarly, the flammability results reveal that the burning rate of graphene‐reinforced H/G hybrid composite is 17.44 mm/min. When comparing the mechanical, water absorption, and flammability characteristics of graphene and MXene‐reinforced G/H hybrid composites, graphene gives more intensifying results than MXene. The scanning electron microscopic studies are also incorporated to investigate the fractured surface topography of the FRHC.

Characterization of Mechanical and Damping Properties of Nettle and Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

Growing environmental concerns are becoming significant challenges for large-scale applications in the automotive industry. Replacing and hybridizing glass fibers with natural fibers for non-structural applications is one effective way to address this challenge, while retaining the useful properties of both. This paper investigates the mechanical and damping performance of four types of compression-molded materials: polyester matrix (reference), nettle (6% by weight), hybrid 1 (6% glass and 6% nettle by weight), and hybrid 2 (12% glass and 6% nettle by weight), with polyester matrix at an ambient temperature. The tensile tests using digital image correlation (DIC) showed that by adding 6% by weight nettle fibers for polymer matrix tensile modulus increases by 21%. For the hybrid 1 two-layer composite (6% by weight glass and 6% by weight nettle) and the hybrid 2 three-layer composite (12% by weight glass and 6% by weight nettle), it increases by 80% and 101%, respectively. On the other hand, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) has been used to assess the damping properties of the materials. The results showed that the loss factor increased by 6~14% for nettle reinforced composite, by 8~25% for hybrid 1 glass-nettle reinforced composite and by 2~15% for hybrid 2 glass-nettle reinforced composite for frequencies around 1.0~2.0 Hz and around 12 Hz corresponding to vehicle body and suspension natural frequencies, respectively. These results showed that glass fibers can be replaced by nettle fibers without compromising performance.

Multi-objective optimal design of carbon and glass reinforced hybrid composites based on design rules

An optimisation study on the carbon and glass fibre reinforced hybrid composites in three-point bending is presented in this paper. For both unidirectional and multi-directional hybrid composites, the flexural properties were obtained by Finite Element Analysis (FEA)-based simulation. Several design rules were derived, and optimisation was done by applying these rules, with minimising the cost and weight being the objectives and the flexural strength being the constraint. The results from the design rule-based optimisation were compared with those from the non-dominated sorting GA-II (NSGA-II).

Investigation of Jute and Glass Fibre Reinforced Hybrid Composites Manufactured through Compression Molding Process

Expensive and non-biodegradable synthetic fibres are commonly utilized as reinforcement in composites for better mechanical properties. The eco-friendly and low-cost properties of natural fibres are promising alternative reinforcement for composites. In this study epoxy-based glass and jute fibres reinforced hybrid composites are fabricated varying fibre stacking sequences, 1jute-1glass alternatively (j-g-j-) and 4glass-9jute-4glass (4g-9j-4g). Hybridization of jute and glass fibre results better tensile, flexural and water absorption properties than only jute fibre reinforced composites but inferior to only glass fibre reinforced composites. The 4g-9j-4g stacking sequence resulted in better mechanical and water absorption properties than j-g-j-- stacking sequence. The effect of chemical treatment and glass microfiber infusion are also investigated. Chemically treated jute fibre and 2 wt.% microfiber infused hybrid composite shows about 42% improvements in flexural strength as compared to untreated and without microfiber infused composites. However, fibre chemical treatment and microfiber do not have a positive impact on tensile strength.

Experimental investigation and Analysis on effect of fiber orientation on mechanical properties of synthetic and natural fiber reinforced hybrid composite

Automobile bumper is an essential component that is commonly used to absorb the impact load during vehicle collisions, in fact it saves lives at such occurrences.In order to withstand the impact load, and the bumper deforms itself during collision and protects the passengers by havingthe proper cross section and the material selection. In this way, the study explores the mechanical characterization of fabricated composite and its structural analysis. Impact conditions have to be studied for improving the mechanical properties of the bumper during collision. The material chosen for analysis is jute and Glass fiber reinforced hybrid epoxy composite, considering its light weight and strength characteristics. Composites with two different fibre orientations (45°/90°) are fabricated using Hydraulic Compression Moulding technique. From experimental observations of jute and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites, the orientation has significant effect on the structural and mechanical properties. The results are validated using the simulation of a bumper by impact modelling using CATIA software and impact analysis is carried out using ANSYS.

Characterization of kenaf and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites for underbody shield applications

With an objective to make automotive parts environmentally friendly by replacing glass fibers with natural fibers for underbody shield application, this paper investigates the water absorption behavior of three types of compression-molded composites: all-glass (25% by wt.), all-kenaf (25% by wt.) and hybrid (12.5% glass and 12.5% kenaf by wt.) with polyethylene terephthalate matrix and Acrodur® binding agent at ambient (23 °C) and elevated (70 °C) temperatures. Specimens saturated at ambient temperature were then subjected to various hygrothermal conditionings: freeze-thaw cycling between 23 °C and −29 °C; extended freeze at −29 °C; and re-drying. Standard flexural tests showed the degradation in mechanical properties was a strong function of water absorption. At dry conditions, both flexural modulus and strength for hybrid and all-kenaf composite were much higher compared to all-glass composite. After saturation, the mechanical properties of all-kenaf and hybrid composite, despite being significantly affected by water absorption, were comparable to the saturated all-glass composites. As expected, the mechanical properties of composites saturated at 70 °C were severely affected where the modulus decreased by about 55% for the hybrid and all-kenaf composites. However, freeze-thaw cycling and extended freeze did not have any significant impact on the mechanical properties of the saturated composites. Interestingly, the flexural strength for all composites increased after the saturated specimens were re-dried. This phenomenon was attributed to the added crosslinking in the Acrodur matrix. Also, sound absorption tests and muffler tests showed that glass fibers can be replaced by kenaf fibers without compromising the performance.

Effect of bentonite clay and polypropylene matrix on the properties of silk and glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites

Present research investigates the effect of bentonite clay and polypropylene (PP) matrix on the properties of silk and glass fiber hybrid composites. Three types of composite were prepared with 10 wt% silk and fiber at 1:1 ratio using hot press machine. In two composites commercial and recycled PP were used as matrix, while in third composite bentonite clay was added to silk and glass-reinforced commercial PP. Mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness) tests, water absorption test, and thermogravimetric analysis were subsequently conducted. Tensile strength, flexural modulus, and hardness decreased, whereas Young’s modulus, impact strength, water absorption, and thermal stability increased with the addition of bentonite clay. On the other hand, change of matrix from commercial PP to recycled PP increased Young’s modulus, flexural strength, impact strength, and thermal stability and decreased tensile strength, flexural modulus, and hardness.

Mechanical and low velocity impact characterization of carbon/glass hybrid composites with graphene nanoplatelets

The present study aims to investigate the ability of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) inclusion effects on mechanical (tensile and flexural) and low-velocity impact (LVI) characteristics of carbon and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites. A high speed of mechanical stirrer was used for mixing of epoxy with GnPs particles at different GnPs weight contents (0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt%), and the mixture of the GnPs enriched resin was applied to the carbon and glass fiber fabrics for different lay-up conditions by using the hand-layup method. Impact tests were performed by using a drop weight impact machine for the impact energy of 30 J, and time history responses of load and displacement were evaluated and reported. Damage characteristics of the composite samples after the low-velocity impact tests were characterized and compared according to GnPs loadings. In this way, the combined effects of GnPs loading and carbon/glass fiber hybridization were investigated in detail. Results showed from this study that incorporation of GnPs particles at the certain concentrations significantly affects the impact resistance and mechanical properties of carbon/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites. However, excessive GnPs particle addition into the epoxy resin caused a reduction in mechanical and impact properties as a result of particle agglomeration with reducing load transferring from particle to matrix resin.

TiO2 and zeolite nanopowder enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites

Manufacturing hybrid composites using polyethylene (PE) matrix is the main focus of this present research. Physico-mechanical testing of betel nut and glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites was subsequently performed. Random orientation and short fiber-reinforced composite was manufactured using a hot press machine for 80% PE-20% fiber at a ratio of betel nut and glass fiber 1:3, found from previous research. Therefore, the effect of nanofiller on that ratio was mainly explored in this research. As a result, more samples were fabricated by the addition of titanium oxide and zeolite nanopowder as a nanofiller for this fiber ratio of betel nut and glass 1:3 by keeping the fiber short with random orientation. The fabricated composites were characterized based on mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis (FTIR). FTIR analysis ensured the presence of nanopowder and –OH group in the respective composites. Therefore, the addition of titanium oxide nanopowder enhanced all mechanical properties of the composites, except % elongation at break. SEM analysis revealed better interfacial bonding and uniform dispersion of nanofiller in the PE matrix. Composites containing betel nut and glass at a ratio of 1:3 with titanium oxide nanopowder would provide the optimum set of mechanical properties among all fabricated hybrid composites.

Effect of stacking sequence on the flexural properties of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites

A study on the flexural properties of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced epoxy hybrid composites is presented in this paper. For the purpose of understanding the effect of stacking sequence on the flexural properties, test specimens of both glass/carbon and sandwich stacking sequences were studied both experimentally and by simulation. The experimental flexural properties were obtained by three-point bend test in accordance with ASTM D7264/D7264M-15. Simulation was achieved with the aid of finite element analysis (FEA) and classical lamination theory (CLT). From the experimental and simulation results, it is concluded that for the hybrid composites with glass/carbon stacking sequences, when glass/epoxy laminas are placed on the compressive face, positive hybrid effects are present. When glass/epoxy laminas are placed on the tensile face, the hybrid effect is dominantly negative. For the sandwich-type hybrid composites, carbon/epoxy laminas should be the skin and glass/epoxy laminas should be the core.

Influence of fiber surface treatment on physico-mechanical properties of betel nut and glass fiber reinforced hybrid polyethylene composites

The present research focuses on manufacturing hybrid composites using polyethylene matrix. Physico-mechanical testing of betel nut and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites were subsequently conducted. Effect of alkali treatment of fiber was also explored. Firstly, composites were manufactured using a hot press machine for fixed 20% fiber loading. Betel nut and glass fiber ratio’s were varied at 1:1, 3:1 and 1:3. The fabricated composites were characterized based on mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Mechanical properties of fabricated hybrid composites enhanced significantly with increase in glass fiber content except for impact properties whereas it was reduced. Later, treated betel nut-glass fiber at a ratio of 1:3 was used to fabricate another sample. FTIR analysis reported that alkaline treatment of betel nut fiber transformed hydrophilic -OH groups of raw betel nut fiber into hydrophobic -O−Na groups and eliminated hemicellulose and lignin content of that fiber. Therefore, alkali treatment enhanced all mechanical properties of the composites. SEM analysis revealed better interfacial bonding between the treated fiber and PE due to alkaline treatment. Composites containing treated betel nut and glass at a ratio of 1:3 would provide the optimum set of mechanical properties among all fabricated hybrid composites.

Evaluation of tensile, flexural and Impact strength of natural and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites

Abstract The development of composite materials made up of natural fibers is improving in engineering applications such as Automotive, Marine and Aerospace, due to its properties such as high specific strength, renewable, non-abrasive,

Investigations on Aluminium wire mesh, Banana Fiber and Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

Objectives: In the fiber metal laminates aluminium has been preferred choice when it comes to the selection of the type of metal to be used as reinforcement in FML, due to its easy of availability, favourable mix of mechanical characteristics and low cost. Among fibers, glass has been found out to be most reliable as it is cheaper than its counterparts, and at the same time does not compromise on its mechanical properties. Methods: The hand-layup process is employed to fabricate two types of composites: a normal GFRP and a GFRP hybrid. The hybrid, named GABGRP (glass-aluminium-banana-glassreinforced plastic) comprises of layers of both aluminium and banana fibers as reinforcements in a glass fiber-base. The aluminium in this study has been employed in two different forms: foil and wire mesh. The GABGRP has been fabricated, and subjected to material testing to find out aluminium in which form, aluminium is more suitable as a reinforcement. The fabricated materials are cut in accordance to ASTM standards and are subjected to various mechanical tests, namely tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests. Findings: The investigation conducted on Glass-Aluminium Foil/Wire Mesh- Banana Fibre-Glass Hybrid Composites, it has been inferred that the GABGRP (with Al wire mesh) hybrid composite has the highest flexural strength among its counterparts. Also, the GABGRP (with Al wire mesh) hybrid composite has the highest tensile load capacity when compared with the other two composite types. GABGRP hybrid also has a higher toughness value than the standard GFRP. GABGRP (with Al wire mesh) also exhibits a lower hardness value, which shows that it is less brittle. Thus, it is inferred that the inclusion of banana fibers and aluminium wire mesh as reinforcements in GFRP hybrid composites influences its mechanical properties. Improvement/Applications: The inclusion of aluminium as wire mesh and banana fibers in GFRP that influences its mechanical properties, contributing towards a higher flexibility, ductility, impact and tensile properties.

Multi-objective robust optimisation of unidirectional carbon/glass fibre reinforced hybrid composites under flexural loading

A multi-objective robust optimisation (MORO) of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites under flexural loading based on an a posteriori approach has been presented in this paper. The hybrid composite comprised of T700S carbon/epoxy laminate at the tensile side and E glass/epoxy laminate at the compressive side. The conflicting objectives for optimisation were to minimise the cost and weight of the composite subject to the constraint of a minimum specified flexural strength. Fibre angles and thicknesses of each lamina were considered as uncertain but bounded variables with the worst-case analyses being performed as a non-probabilistic method and the effect of uncertainties being determined. A hybrid multi-objective optimisation evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) was introduced through modification of an elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and combining it with the fractional factorial design method. The performance of the hybrid algorithm was found to be superior to that of the original version of NSGA-II. The multi-objective robust optimisation of the hybrid composite was solved by utilising the proposed algorithm for several levels of strength with the robust Pareto optimal sets being generated and compared. Three scenarios have been considered to illustrate the applicability of the obtained solutions in an a posteriori decision making process.

An Optimization Approach to the Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Particulate Filled Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

The new set of hybrid composites consisting of randomly oriented short e glass fiber reinforcement, polyester resin and titanium oxide (TiO2) particulate were developed by hand layup technique. Wear test was carried out by rubber wheel abrasive test (RWAT) rig with the four operating variables filler content, applied load, abrasive grit size (Al2O3) and test duration. The wear test of the composites were done on the basis of Taguchi's L9 (34) Orthogonal array. Analysis of variance and S/N ratio was used to study the optimum wear. From, Taguchi's experimental design a mathematical regression model of the wear rate was suggested. Genetic algorithm (GA) was used to compare the result which obtained from Taguchi's design of experiment. The fitness graph from the GA gives the better fitness function in which the operating variables were determined and the minimum wear rate was obtained. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image discovered to review the crater formation and fiber pull out.

Impact Behaviour Analysis of Sisal/Jute and Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

The fibers from naturally available resources are considered to have potential alternate reinforcing agent in polymer matrix composite materials due to their properties such as high strength, stiffness, degradable in nature and renewable in nature. In this study a lightweight, low cost and environment friendly hybrid composites are prepared by using sisal-jute-glass fibers as the reinforcement materials. There are three types of composites such as sisal/glass fiber reinforced polymer (SGFRP) composites, jute/glass fiber reinforced polymer (JGFRP) composites and sisal/jute/glass fiber reinforced polymer (SJGFRP) composites are prepared by hand lay-up process and underwent to charpy impact test in order to study their impact properties. Post impact induced damage, material failure mechanism, matrix cracking, fiber breakage and pullout was observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results showed that the energy absorption and load carrying capacity of JGFRP composites are better and able to withstand higher loads than SGFRP composites and SJGFRP composites. It is further observed from the experiment, the inclusion of sisal and jute fibers with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites has gained good impact properties. It is suggested that these light weight sisal and jute fibers have been used as an alternative reinforcing material to synthetic fiber for medium load applications.

Mechanical Properties of Basalt and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composites

This study describes the mechanical properties of Basalt fiber and Glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites developed by using compression moulding techniques. Woven Basalt fibers and Glass fibers were used for fabricating the hybrid composites, polyester resin as matrix with different fiber stacking sequences. The mechanical properties of hybrid composites like Flexural strength, Impact strength and tensile strength of the various specimens are calculated by using computer assisted Universal testing machine and Charpy Impact testing machine as per the ASTM standards. The result shows that the reinforcement of woven Basalt and Glass fibers hybrid composites significantly influencing on the mechanical properties of the composites and it found that the intermediate properties between basalt glass fibers reinforced composites.