Mechanical and Morphological Analysis of Aramid Fiber (PPTA), Glass Wool (GW), Aluminum (Al), and Silicon Carbide (SiC) Particles Embedded High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Composite research is adopting innovative materials in the current period due to their better qualities, such as being lightweight, having excellent mechanical properties, being relatively inexpensive, having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, etc. Composite materials play a crucial part in this challenge, with the fast market growth for lightweight and high-performance materials. In the present research, different weight percentages of aramid fiber, glass wool, aluminum, and silicon carbide-reinforced high-density polyethylene hybrid composite are introduced. The degree of adhesion between the matrix and reinforcement was determined through microstructural investigation utilizing an optical and scanning electronic microscope. Mechanical properties (tensile behaviors, flexural behavior, impact strength and hardness property) of the fabricated composites are investigated. Comparative study of mechanical properties for different combinations of fabricated composites reveals an increase in elongation at break, flexural strength, flexural modulus and hardness, while tensile strength and impact strength have decreased sequentially from 5 to 40 wt.%. The mechanical properties of HDPE-PPTA-GW-Al-SiC hybrid composites obtained at 40 wt.% PPTA [Poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide)], GW (glass wool), Al, and SiC powder loading are superior as compared to other hybrid composites.