Fabrication and Performance Investigation of Natural-Glass Fiber Hybrid Laminated Composites at Different Stacking Orientations

Abstract

As the resources are declining globally, researchers are constantly looking for the development of new materials. The composite materials using natural fibers are one of the best solutions nowadays in this regard. In third-world countries, jute is produced abundantly. Moreover, banana is widely available due to their reproduction ability from an existing plant. This study involves the use of jute-glass fiber laminas and banana-glass fiber laminas with epoxy resin, individually, to produce hybrid laminated composites. Different Stacking orientations such as [0°/G/G/0°], [0°/G/G/30°], and [30°/G/G/30°] have been utilized for both jute and banana fibers to find the best hybrid laminated composite. The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and heat reversion properties along with some physical properties like density, specific gravity, and water absorption of these hybrid laminated composites have been tested according to the ASTM standards. The fracture surface has been examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscopic visualization. It has been found from the experimental results that the jute-glass fiber composite shows better mechanical and physical properties, and among all the stacking orientations, [0°/G/G/0°] orientation provides higher tensile strength, flexural strength, and physical properties, whereas [0°/G/G/30°] orientation shows the better impact and hardness properties.

Keywords

• hybrid natural composites
• unidirectional
• lay-up process
• fracture surface
• mechanical properties
• stacking orientation