Mechanical characterization of hybrid composites based on flax, basalt and glass fibers

Abstract

An experimental study on tensile, flexural and impact properties of flax-basalt-glass reinforced epoxy hybrid composites is presented in this paper. Test specimens were fabricated by vacuum bagging process. The effects of reinforcement hybridization, fiber relative amounts and stacking sequence on the mechanical properties were investigated. Morphological studies of the fabricated and fractured surfaces through thickness were performed using scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the developed hybrid composites display enhanced tensile, flexural and impact performance as compared with flax reinforced epoxy composite. The flexural strength increases when partial laminas from flax/epoxy laminate are replaced by basalt/epoxy and/or glass/epoxy laminas. Also, it is realized that incorporating high-strength fibers, i.e. glass or basalt, to the outer layers of the composite leads to higher flexural resistance, whilst the opposite was noticed for tensile properties. The fabricated hybrids were found to have economical and specific mechanical properties benefits. Fiber-relative amounts and stacking sequence have great effects on the mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of hybrid laminates are proven to be highly dependent on the position of the flax layers within the hybrid composite. The Hybridization with basalt and/or glass fibers is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of flax/epoxy composites.

Basalt/Glass Fiber Polypropylene Hybrid Composites: Mechanical Properties at Different Temperatures and under Cyclic Loading and Micromechanical Modelling

“…The research about basalt/glass hybrid composites with a thermoplastic matrix are not well studied and published in the literature. Combining basalt and glass fibers inside one matrix is more popular for thermoset composites [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Moreover, the hybridization of glass fibers with other fibers than basalt has been studied more extensively [ 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Comparative Study of the Reinforcement Type Effect on the Thermomechanical Properties and Burning of Epoxy-Based Composites

“…Among the long fibers used in the production of laminates with a matrix of thermoset polymers, the most frequently used ones include glass fibers (GF), mostly S-glass and E-glass, depending on final purpose, i.e., tensile strength or chemical durability, respectively [6]. Manufacturing of the epoxy-based composites using GF fabrics allows achieving low-priced, and high-performance products [10][11][12]. To increase the mechanical strength and durability of epoxy laminates, it is common practice to replace them with carbon fibers (CF) [13][14][15].…”

Fatigue behaviour of flax-basalt/epoxy hybrid composites in comparison with non-hybrid composites

“…worked on Kevlar-kenaf hybrid composites [33]. The benefits of basalt hybridisation in flax based laminates have been well documented in literature in terms of quasi-static [34][35][36] and low velocity impact properties [37,38]. Nevertheless, to the best of authors' knowledge, there are no published results concerning the fatigue behaviour of basalt-plant hybrid composites.…”