GF/CF hybrid laminates made through intra-tow hybridization for automobile applications

Abstract

Among the drawbacks that the composites entirely reinforced with carbon fibers have, low strain-to-failure and catastrophic failure behaviour are the most undesirable ones. Nonetheless, in many industries for example in automobile industries, the necessity of light-weight structures with a balanced cost is unquestionable. Hybridization of glass fibers with carbon fibers could be an effective way to improve the strain-to-failure of composites entirely reinforced carbon fibers and therefore, a balance between the stiffness and toughness could be improved without excessive cost. In this paper, for automobile applications it is proposed to selectively incorporate the glass and carbon fibers through intra-layer hybridization technique. It is also proposed to mix the fibers as intimately as possible. This paper investigates the influences of hybrid ratio and laminate geometry on tensile mechanical properties both computationally and experimentally- and they have been found to have significant influences on tensile properties and hence should be treated as most crucial parameters. The brittle and catastrophic failure of plain carbon composite was avoided through intra-tow hybridization with higher dispersion. Damage mechanism has been explained and SEM observations were carried out for morphology analysis. Vacuum assisted resin infusion process is also recommended to attain high quality of impregnation.