Impacted of Vacuum Bag Woven Kenaf/Fiberglass Hybrid Composite

Abstract

This paper discusses the mechanical properties of woven kenaf/fiberglass hybrid composites which has been fabricating using vacuum bag technique. Kenaf fiber had chosen among others natural fibres due to its excellent mechanical properties and potential natural raw fiber to replace plastic or tobacco in manufacturing a multitude of products for the construction, automotive, textile and advanced technology sectors. This study investigates post impact tensile of kenaf hybrid composites and its surface fractured. The impact energy used consists of 4J, 6J, 8J, 12J and 16J. The specimens were clamped between two plate rings with an internal hole diameter of 18mm and impacted with hemispherical nose impactor shape with diameter size of 12.7mm. The results revealed that this kenaf hybrid composite showed significant decreasing of strength and modulus as increasing the impact energy. The damage area affected with fiber fracture occurred much later in fracture process due to high bending stresses.