Effects of Carbon Fiber Hybridization on Mechanical, Structural, and Thermal Properties of Cordia dichotoma fiber-reinforced epoxy composite

ABSTRACT

In this study, an attempt is made to check whether a hybrid composite made up of both synthetic and natural fibers (Carbon and Cordia Dichotoma respectively) can be made bio-degradable, at least to some extent, without much compromising on the mechanical properties. Hybrid composites were prepared by reinforcing alkali treated Cordia dichotoma and carbon fibers into epoxy resin using hand lay-up method. By varying the number of layers of fibers in the composite specimen and fixing 20% fiber weight for all composites, nine distinct combinations of specimens were prepared. The maximum tensile strength of 386.68 MPa, flexural strength of 647.08 MPa, and impact energy of 4.82 J were obtained for composites produced with pure carbon fiber, whereas hybrid composite exhibit tensile strength of 367.76 MPa, flexural strength of 646.41MPa and impact energy of 4.74 J. The interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix of tested specimens was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as the arrangement of fibers within the matrix for the manufactured composite. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate thermal stability, and it was found that it was thermally stable up to 415°C. 9. Crystallinity value increases from 20% carbon fiber to 20% alkali fiber.

摘要

在这项研究中，试图检查由合成纤维和天然纤维（分别为Carbon和Cordia Dichtotoma）组成的混合复合材料是否可以生物降解，至少在一定程度上不会对机械性能造成太大影响. 采用手糊法将碱处理过的二歧虫草和碳纤维增强为环氧树脂，制备了杂化复合材料. 通过改变复合材料试样中纤维层的数量，并为所有复合材料固定20%的纤维重量，制备了九种不同的试样组合. 纯碳纤维复合材料的最大拉伸强度为386.68 MPa，弯曲强度为647.08 MPa，冲击能为4.82 J，而杂化复合材料的拉伸强度为367.76 MPa，弯曲性能为646.41 MPa，冲击能量为4.74 J. 使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）研究了测试样品的纤维和基体之间的界面结合，以及所制造的复合材料的纤维在基体内的排列. 热重分析（TGA）用于研究热稳定性，发现其在高达415°C时是热稳定的.9.结晶度值从20%的碳纤维增加到20%的碱纤维.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fiber
• synthetic fibers
• epoxy
• SEM
• TGA and FT-IR

关键词:

• 天然纤维，合成纤维，环氧树脂
• SEM, TGA and FT-IR

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Highlights

The addition of carbon fiber to cordia dichotoma fiber-reinforced epoxy hybrid composites increased mechanical qualities such as tensile, flexural, and impact capabilities.

Tensile and flexural test revealed that carbon fibers-reinforced cordia dichotoma fiber epoxy composite gives enhanced strength and modulus.

The SEM morphology revealed that good interfacial bonding and fewer pullouts were observed between the cordia dichotoma and epoxy matrix.

The carbon hybridized composite’s residual char yield was found to be higher than cordia dichotoma composites without carbon fiber hybridization.