Authors : Tan Chye Lih, Irina Wong, Azwan Iskandar Azmi and Noorhafiza Muhammad
Abstract: Evaluation on the performance of hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites is inevitable prior to their final usage in various engineering structures. Hence, this study presents an experimental investigation of the interplay hybrid laminates effect of plain woven carbon and E-glass fibers with the epoxy matrix on the tensile and flexural behaviors. The carbon-glass FRP hybrid composites were fabricated using Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding process (VARTM) which is capable of producing high volume fractions panels. The full carbon and full glass FRP composites were also fabricated using the same technique as a reference parameter. Mechanical properties and performance of the carbon-glass FRP hybrid composites were evaluated against the full carbon or full glass fiber reinforced polymer composites according to the ASTM standards. The mechanical properties (in term of strength and strain, respectively) of single fibers composite were enhanced by hybridization of carbon and glass fiber composites. In addition, theoretical analysis through the rule of mixture reveals that the carbon-glass FRP hybrid composite has exhibited a positive hybrid effect in term of tensile and flexural behaviors.
Tan Chye Lih, Irina Wong, Azwan Iskandar Azmi and Noorhafiza Muhammad, 2016. On Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Hybrid FRP Composites Via VARTM and Rule of Mixture. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11: 2036-2043.