The Effect of Braiding Angle on the Strength of Carbon Fiber Hybrid Fabrics Reinforced with Thermoplastics

Hybrid fabrics, created by combining two or more yarns with different properties, are widely used in the textile industry and have seen increasing application in engineering-focused textile composites. By optimizing the materials and ratios of the yarns, hybrid fabrics can achieve excellent mechanical properties while remaining lightweight and cost-effective. These fabrics allow for tailored material choices to suit different applications. In this project, hybrid fabrics were produced using the braiding method, combining carbon technical fibers with thermoplastic materials such as polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP), which are widely preferred in the manufacturing industry for their low cost, processability, and versatility. The braiding method was chosen due to its automation compatibility, low production cost, and ability to customize the product by adjusting various parameters to achieve the desired final shape. The mechanical properties of the resulting products were influenced by multiple variables, including the braiding angle range, yarn dimensions, and the number of spools. The hybrid fabrics, braided with different materials and angles, were subsequently transformed into plates using a hot pressing machine at various temperature and pressure settings determined through the Taguchi method. During this process, the thermoplastic component was melted, and tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of these variables on the strength of the final product. The results of tensile tests conducted by pulling the plates in different directions showed that the angle yielding the highest strength varied with direction. Ultimately, a 45° braiding angle was determined to be the optimal configuration for achieving balanced mechanical performance in both directions. Future studies will investigate the effects of other parameters on the strength of hybrid fabrics.