Effects of Laminate Stacking Configurations on Sandwich‐Structured Transparent Composites Fabricated From Waste Textiles

ABSTRACT Glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP), as an advanced transparent composite, has attracted considerable attention in architectural decoration. However, its highly directional light‐transmission characteristics limit its application in aesthetically demanding environments. In this study, sandwich‐structured transparent composites were fabricated using glass fiber fabric, plain woven silk fabric, and recycled curtain fabric. The effects of the stacking sequence on the optical and mechanical properties and flexural failure mechanisms of the composites were investigated. Optical performance analysis revealed that when the light‐transmitting composite was configured with recycled curtain fabric as the core layer, silk fabric as the intermediate layers, and glass fiber fabric as the outermost layers, the transmitted light exhibited quasi‐isotropic scattering, resulting in a more uniform and softer visual appearance. Compared with GFRP, G/S/P/S/G composite exhibited 18.9% and 48.3% reductions in light transmittance and average luminance, respectively, while maintaining a stable color rendering index of 93.0 Ra. Three‐point bending tests demonstrated that high‐modulus glass fibers in the outer layers effectively sustained tensile and compressive stresses, while the high toughness and damping capacity of silk fibers inhibited crack propagation. Consequently, G/S/P/S/G composite achieved the highest flexural strength and modulus of 434.4 MPa and 19.0 GPa, respectively, representing increases of 76.9% and 84.5% over S/G/P/G/S composite. Combined camera imaging, acoustic emission, and Micro‐CT analyses revealed dense high‐amplitude signals of 80–100 dB during flexural loading, indicating efficient stress transfer from the matrix to the fibers. Fiber fracture was identified as the dominant damage mechanism, further confirming the superior flexural performance of G/S/P/S/G composite.