Optimized Mechanical and Thermal Performance of Glass and Caustic Soda-Treated Banana Fibre Hybrid Composites

This study investigates the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid composites made from glass fibres and caustic soda-treated banana fibres. The composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up method, and their performance was evaluated through tensile, flexural, and impact tests, as well as thermal analysis. The untreated banana fibre composite exhibited a tensile strength of 50 MPa, which increased to 65 MPa after caustic soda treatment. The hybrid composite, with glass and treated banana fibres, showed a tensile strength of 85 MPa, representing a 30% improvement over the treated banana fibre composite. Flexural strength improved from 60 MPa (untreated) to 75 MPa (treated) and reached 110 MPa in the hybrid composite, demonstrating the load-bearing capacity contributed by glass fibres. Impact energy absorption increased from 8 J in untreated banana composites to 12 J in the hybrid. Thermal stability, evaluated through TGA, indicated that the hybrid composite remained stable up to 300°C, compared to 275°C for treated banana fibre composites. The thermal conductivity of the hybrid composite was measured at 0.24 W/m·K, higher than the 0.21 W/m·K for treated banana fibre composites, making the hybrid composite suitable for applications requiring both mechanical strength and efficient heat dissipation.