Physical and Mechanical Behavior of Ramie and Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin-Based Hybrid Composites

Abstract

In this study, the compression molding technique was used to fabricate hybrid composites using different wt.% of the glass and ramie fibers in different stacking sequences. The physical (density, water absorption, and wear resistance) and mechanical (tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength) and morphology studies were performed for the glass and ramie fibers and the effect of stacking sequencing was studied. A technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution model was used to determine the optimal reinforcement composition in the hybrid composites. The stacking sequence played a crucial role in the physical and mechanical characteristics of the hybrid composites. The GRG (stacking sequence: Glass (4 wt.%)-Ramie (4 wt.%)-Glass(4 wt.%)) hybrid composite showed optimal characteristics; tensile strength: 114 MPa, hardness: 41 HV, impact energy: 3.5 J m−1, void content: 1.09% and wear: 63 μm. However, if glass fibers were sandwiched between the ramie fiber layer, the composite showed lower physical and mechanical characteristics; tensile strength: 72 MPa, hardness: 28 HV, impact energy: 3 J m−1. The glass fiber reinforced composites (GG and GGG) exhibited better water absorption characteristics. The RRR composite’s impact strength was comparable with the GGG composites due to the stacking of the composites. Moreover, the glass fiber composites stacking (RR to RGR) exhibited lower tensile strength than ramie fiber composites stacking (GG to GRG). The microstructural analysis of the fractured composite surface revealed voids, de-lamination, interfacial bonding of the fibers with the matrix, fiber pull-out, and matrix distribution.

Keywords

• hybrid composites
• natural fibers
• ramie fibers
• epoxy resin