Hybrid composite materials, which combine two or more types of fiber in a single matrix, have currently drawn the interest of researchers. This research investigates the tensile and impact properties of hybrid kenaf/glass reinforced metal laminates (FMLs) with different fiber orientations and stacking configurations. FMLs were formed by sandwiching the annealed aluminum 5052 sheets to the composite laminates using hot press molding compression technique. The tensile test was performed at a quasi-static rate of 2 mm/min with reference to ASTM E8 whereas Charpy impact test was conducted using impact pendulum tester according to ASTM E23.Results showed that improvement in tensile and impact strength was observed in hybrid FMLs compared to kenaf fiber reinforced FMLs. Fiber orientation of ±45° reduced the tensile strength but increased the impact strength of FMLs in comparison with fiber orientation of 0°/90°. Overall, hybrid FMLs incorporated with a fiber stacking sequence of glass/kenaf/glass showed superior characteristic in tensile and impact performance.
K E Y W O R D Sfiber metal laminates, hybrid composites, impact properties, kenaf fibers, tensile properties, thermoplastic
Hybrid composites have become the focal point of research communities due to the balance in mechanical and ecological properties of such materials.Hybridization is an efficient technique to strengthen and enhance the performance of composite materials. In this research study, hybrid composites were prepared by embedding pineapple leaf and glass fibers in polypropylene polymers via the hot press molding compression technique. Mechanical tests were carried out to determine the tensile, flexural and Charpy impact properties of pineapple leaf/glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composite laminates. Additionally, water absorption test was also conducted to investigate the influence of hybridization on the moisture uptake of hybrid composites. In accordance with the findings obtained, the hybridization of pineapple leaf with glass fibers was found to improve the mechanical properties and moisture uptake sensitivity of the composite laminates. The [G/P/G] composite laminates are especially promising, having comparable mechanical strengths to those of non-hybrid [G/G/G] composite laminates. Meanwhile, the water absorption and diffusion coefficient of [G/P/G] composite laminates were 66.64% and 40.71% lower than non-hybrid [P/P/P] composite laminates. Based on the findings obtained, it is anticipated that the hybridization of pineapple leaf and glass fibers endows the composite laminates with lightweight characteristic, remarkable mechanical properties and low moisture uptake sensitivity while improving the environmental friendliness of the materials. Therefore, hybrid composites have indeed attested a very high potential to be used in transportation sectors.
The ever-growing use of eco-friendly cellulosic fibers in composite materials has triggered the interest in adopting such fibers in fiber-metal laminates. Ramie is one of the cellulosic fibers that show high mechanical strength and stiffness. This work aims to explore the feasibility of encapsulating woven ramie core in fibermetal laminates. The sandwich laminates and composites were fabricated using the hot molding compression method. Tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and quasistatic indentation tests were carried out to identify the mechanical performance of fiber-metal laminates based on woven ramie core. Meanwhile, the mechanical tests were also performed on the composite laminates and woven ramie fabrics for comparison purposes. Based on the findings obtained, ramie fiber-reinforced metal laminates exhibited eminent absolute and specific mechanical properties compared to their associated ramie fabrics and ramie fiber-based composites. The specific tensile strength of metal laminates is 3.80% and 50.56% higher than that of ramie fabrics and composite laminates. It was also found that the specific flexural and impact strengths of metal laminates are 70.02% and 89.12%, respectively, greater than those of composite laminates. In terms of quasi-static indentation, metal laminates displayed specific energy absorption of 35.25 J/g/cm 3 , which is 388.23% greater than composite laminates. These findings corroborated the addition of aluminum skin layers provided the laminated structures with superior absolute and specific mechanical properties. Thus they could be an alternative material to be used in transportation sectors to improve energy efficiency and mechanical performance.
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