Abstract
Single-kenaf fiber-reinforced polymer composites are typically characterized by relatively low strength and stiffness properties that make them unsuitable for structural applications. However, they are lightweight, economical, and ecofriendly. This paper presents a study on the manufacturing and mechanical characterization of bidirectional kenaf (K) fiber-reinforced epoxy composites hybridized with carbon (C) fibers in various stacking sequences and the effects of hybridization on salient physical and mechanical properties. Single and hybrid fiber composites were fabricated utilizing the vacuum infusion molding technique. The density, tensile, flexural, and interlaminar shear properties in hybrid composites increased significantly when carbon fiber volume increased from 9% to 16%. Stacking sequences in a hybrid affected the mechanical properties of the composites. The highest tensile strength and modulus were shown by the seven-layer hybrid composite with an alternate K/C stacking sequence and C layers as skin layers, i.e., C/K/C/K/C/K/C, among all tested hybrid composites. Sandwich design in the hybrid (C2/K3/C2) had higher flexural strength (+300%), flexural modulus (+414%), interlaminar shear strength (+278%), lower water absorption (−46%), and thickness swelling (−30%) compared to single-fiber kenaf/epoxy composites. Density increased by 5% in hybrid composites. The highest fracture toughness (+134%) was achieved using the dual sandwich design structure hybrid (C/K2/C2/K2/C). The developed composite has applications in stairways, walkways, and bridges.
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Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (via the graduate assistantship, GA scheme). This work was supported by the International Collaborative Research Fund (015MEO-208).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- A
- area of the composite;
- a
- initial crack length;
- b
- composite width (25 mm);
- C
- carbon fiber;
- C2
- single-fiber carbon/epoxy;
- D
- Fickian diffusion coefficient;
- GIIc
- fracture toughness (Mode II);
- h0
- thickness of composite before immersion;
- h∞
- thickness of composites at specific periods after immersion;
- K
- kenaf fiber;
- K1
- single-fiber kenaf/epoxy;
- KC
- kenaf/carbon/epoxy hybrid;
- L
- half of the span length of the composites;
- MComp
- mass of the composite;
- Mf
- mass of the fibers;
- MK
- mass of kenaf/carbon fibers;
- n
- layers in the hybrid;
- P
- permeability coefficient;
- Pmax
- maximum load;
- Qs
- % of water absorption at saturation;
- Qt
- water absorption at an immersion time;
- S
- sorption coefficient;
- St
- tenisle/flexural strain;
- Tswell
- thickness swelling;
- VC
- carbon fiber volume fraction;
- Vf
- fiber volume fraction;
- VK
- carbon fiber volume fraction;
- Vm
- matrix volume fraction;
- Vp
- void contents;
- W
- areal density of the fiber;
- W0
- initial weight of the dried specimen before immersion into the water;
- wf
- fiber weight fraction in composite;
- Wt
- weight of the specimen for a specific time after immersion;
- δ
- displacement at maximum load;
- θ
- slope of the water absorption curve;
- ρf
- fiber density;
- ρcomp
- density of the composite; and
- ρm
- density of epoxy.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 28 • Issue 1 • February 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 31, 2022
Accepted: Sep 18, 2023
Published online: Nov 6, 2023
Published in print: Feb 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Apr 6, 2024
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