Effect of size graded granite dust on the mechanical performance of E-glass/carbon hybrid composites for wind blade applications

The current study investigated the mechanical behavior of interlaced E-glass/carbon yarns and size-graded granite dust hybrid polymer composites. The composites were prepared using vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding. To determine the effect of filler size, granite particulates with sizes 25, 50, and 75 µm (referred to as GD25, GD50, and GD75, respectively) and without granite particulate GD00 were used. Hardness, flexural, tensile, and compressive tests were conducted to evaluate mechanical properties, and surface roughness was measured to assess the composite surface topography; all tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM standards. The most promising mechanical properties were observed in the GD25 composite. It showed remarkable improvement in hardness (12.38%), flexural strength (42.98%), and compressive strength (47.29%). However, there was a modest reduction in tensile strength (0.47% reduction in the carbon yarn direction and 7.16% reduction in the E-glass yarn direction). The results demonstrate that incorporating granite dust is a sustainable method to improve the performance of the polymer composite for a wind turbine blade.