Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Polymer Composites Reinforced with Luffa Cylindrica and Flax Fibers

In the present study, hybrid polymer composites reinforced with luffa and flax fibers using an epoxy matrix were fabricated, and their mechanical properties were investigated experimentally. The composites were prepared in a three-ply configuration, with luffa fiber placed between two outer layers of flax fiber mats. Laminates of dimensions 300 × 300 × 4 mm were fabricated using the hand layup technique. Epoxy resin (LY556) and hardener (HY951) were employed as the matrix system. Standard tests were conducted to evaluate the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of the fabricated composites. The experimental results indicated that the hybrid bio-composites exhibited enhanced mechanical performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of fiber hybridization in improving composite properties. Key Words: Tensile strength, Hybrid composite, flexural strength, impact strength.