Effect of sugarcane content and stacking sequence on the mechanical degradation of hybrid carbon/sugarcane reinforced polyvinyl butyral composites

To produce eco-friendly composite materials suitable for defence and structural components, it is necessary to investigate how the mechanical characteristics degrade with moisture absorption, which is affected by immersion time. This research examines the effects of moisture absorption on the mechanical properties of hybrid sugarcane/carbon reinforced polyvinyl butyral (PVB) composites, aiming to balance performance and sustainability for defence and structural applications. Various mechanical tests, including tensile, flexural, compression and Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), with more focus on the moisture absorption for various stacking sequences of sugarcane and carbon, were employed to analyse property degradation. Furthermore, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and morphology of the fracture surface under tensile stress were analysed to investigate the failure mode. Findings indicate that the fibre contents and layering configurations were shown to obviously influence the hybrid mechanical behaviours and the failure mechanisms of hybrid composites. The significant reduction in mechanical properties for the SCS composite can be attributed to the outer sugarcane layer being more affected by water absorption, resulting in up to 45% reduction in mechanical properties. Optimal stacking sequences and sugarcane content ratios are identified to achieve a balance between mechanical performance and sustainability goals, with potential applications in eco-friendly defence and structural materials, with configurations like CSC and CSCS demonstrating better resistance to water-induced degradation.