Enhanced performance of epoxy composites: A study on Walikukun-glass fiber hybrid reinforcement for automotive applications

The increasing demand for sustainable, lightweight, and high-performance materials in the automotive industry necessitates innovative hybrid composite solutions. This study addresses the limitations of natural fibers like Walikukun (WF) in achieving high mechanical and thermal properties by hybridizing them with glass fibers (GF) in epoxy composites. Using a hot press technique, hybrid composites with varying WF and GF ratios were fabricated and evaluated for density, tensile strength, flexural properties, and thermal stability. The results revealed that the hybrid composite with 20 % WF and 10 % GF (W20G10) configuration achieved superior performance, with the highest flexural strength (96.11 ± 22.79 MPa), notable tensile strength (132.81 ± 30.73 MPa), and excellent thermal stability at 248.07 °C initial degradation temperature. Morphological analysis further confirmed improved fiber-matrix adhesion and effective stress distribution in W20G10 composites. This research contributes to the development of hybrid composites, offering valuable insights into optimizing material properties for advanced automotive applications.