Mechanical properties and hydrothermal aging of jute-carbon epoxy hybrid composite laminates

Composites made with natural fibers are being increasingly studied to substitute fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) of synthetic carbon and glass fibers. Hybridization, or combining natural and synthetic fibers in a single composite, successfully enhances natural fiber-reinforced composites’ overall performance, including their strength, stiffness, and durability. The present research investigates the impact of hybridization on the durability of natural fiber composites. Jute fiber is hydrophilic in nature, which can affect its durability or service life when exposed to water. Therefore, this study aims to understand the impact of the hybridization of jute (J) and carbon (C) fibers on the water uptake, tensile properties, flexural properties, and viscoelastic properties of hybrid laminates. Furthermore, the fracture morphology of the specimens was also investigated. Two hybrid composites JCCJ and CJJC made with jute (J) and carbon (C) fibers were fabricated using epoxy resin (TS-A) through a vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) technique. The results show that the hybridization of carbon and jute fiber improves the flexural and tensile properties of the laminates. The hybrid composite CJJC and JCCJ exhibited tensile strengths of 377.1 MPa and 408.6 MPa, and flexural strengths of 405.4 MPa and 158.5 MPa, respectively. The results also revealed a reduction in water absorption, with JJJJ exhibiting the highest equilibrium moisture content at 9.3, while JCCJ and CJJC show lower values at 6.55 and 5.69, respectively. Overall, the CJJC laminate showed better damping and mechanical properties among the two hybrids after 4 months of aging in water.