Development of a Hybrid Composite of Jute/Sunn Hemp/Glass Fiber With Epoxy Resin

ABSTRACT Due to environmental concerns, glass fiber is difficult to recycle and harms the environment. Natural fibers are possibly preferable for polymer composites with decreased environmental impact over synthetic fibers. This study deals with hybridizing natural fibers, for example, chopped jute and sunn hemp fiber, with synthetic mat glass fiber in an epoxy resin (matrix) to generate the hybridized fiber reinforced composite. Before the addition, a 5% alkaline chemical surface treatment increased the interfacial adhesion between natural fiber and epoxy resin. The hybrid composite was prepared by the hand lay‐up process. The study contributes a novel approach to hybridizing natural fibers (jute and sunn hemp) with synthetic mat glass fiber in an epoxy resin matrix. This combination of natural and synthetic fibers has not been explored previously, providing a new perspective in developing hybrid composites. The chopped natural fiber was randomly oriented in the hybrid composite. XRD and SEM were used to examine the composites' morphological and surface structures. Mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness of the composites were evaluated. In the hybridized composites, the weight fractions of glass fiber (40%, 50%, 60%) were varied with natural fibers. Composites with a higher proportion of glass fibers have high mechanical properties. Sample 4 (60% glass fiber and 40% natural fiber) showed good mechanical properties, tensile strength (peak load 3404 N), flexural strength (14.15 MPa), impact strength (26.38 J/m 2 ), and hardness (71.5). XRD results showed that the crystallinity index of S3 and S4 was 21% and 10%, respectively.