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In this research work, the natural fiber reinforced hybrid epoxy composites were fabricated using the hand lay‐up method. The flax and kevlar are used as a reinforcement and epoxy as a binding material. This study aims to analyze the influence of stacking sequence and hybridization on the mechanical, water absorption, and morphological properties of polymer composites. The results reveal that the neat kevlar reinforced composite achieved a maximum tensile strength, modulus, and impact strength of 189.94 MPa, 2345.35 MPa and 37.16 kJ/m2 respectively with less water absorption behavior. Whereas, the hybrid composite with kevlar as an outer layers and flax as core layers was exhibited a maximum flexural strength, modulus, and inter laminar shear strength of 360.76, 37124.2, and 213.51 MPa, respectively. The water absorption percentage was more in neat natural flax reinforced epoxy composite due to its more hydrophilic nature. The scanning electron microscope analysis reveals the proper bonding and adhesion of both kevlar and flax fabrics with the epoxy matrix.

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This article describes the development and characterization of mercerized and untreated naturally woven waste coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber‐reinforced phenol‐formaldehyde (PF) composites. The composites of CLS fiber with 60% and 40% PF were manufactured hand lay technique followed by compression molding method. The investigation of composites was performed by applying tensile, bending, impact test, and measurements of water absorption rate and biodegradability characteristics. The CLS was mercerized using 5% of NaOH. The results confirm the superiority in mechanical properties of treated CLS fiber composites in respect to the untreated ones. The better properties are driven by lower hydrophilic hydroxyl groups and reduced impurities detected on the CLS fibers, which in turn reveals stronger adhesion and superior compatibility between CLS fiber and PF matrix. The rate of water absorption was evaluated within four different types of water conditions such as normal water, bore, distilled, and sea water, respectively. A degradation test was carried to determine biodegradability properties of composites. The superior results of treated CLS fiber composites validate this composite as a good candidate material for domestic and structural applications.

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