Mode I fracture toughness of carbon-glass/epoxy interply hybrid composites

In this study, the fracture toughness of carbon-glass fiber reinforced epoxy interply hybrid composite was investigated. In this experiment, the interply hybrid composites were manufactured using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The fracture toughness of the interply hybrid composites was decreased with increasing the number of glass fabrics. The decrease in fracture toughness with an increase in the glass fiber content can be expressed in the form of a linear equation. Test results showed that the arrangement of fiber significantly influences the fracture toughness of the composite material. Glass fiber was effective against improving the fracture toughness of the hybrid composite when the glass fibers are dispersed by multi layers rather than a single layer.