Effect of S-glass fabric on the mechanical characteristics of a hybrid carbon/aramid fabric reinforced epoxy composites

The aim of this study is to investigate the hybridization effects of intraply carbon/aramid fabric layers with S-glass fabric layers on the tensile and flexural behavior of asymmetric and symmetric arrangements of hybrid composite laminates. The results revealed that the replacement of some carbon/aramid fiber layers with S-glass fiber layers in the composite laminate can provide enhancements in tensile strain, tensile modulus and flexural properties while the tensile strength results were slightly degraded. Three-point bending test results indicated a significant improvement in flexural properties when S-glass fibers employed in compressive side across the depth of composite laminates. The maximum increment in tensile modulus, flexural modulus and flexural strength of hybrid composite laminates were 19.7%, 50.0% and 42.3%, respectively compared to carbon/aramid fiber reinforced epoxy composite. (paper)