Mechanical performance evaluation of optimal hybrid composite fabricated with glass and carbon fibers and thermoplastic polypropylene matrix or fencing sports athletes

Abstract

Fibers in composite materials intended for athletic equipment applications can exhibit superior mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, in comparison to the polymer matrix. In this study, glass fibers were combined with a polypropylene matrix, with six layers of glass fibers placed alternately between the polypropylene layers. The polypropylene matrix was melted using a hot-press machine, which covered the glass fibers by applying pressure and heat simultaneously. After fabrication, the mechanical performance of the composite was evaluated using various tests, including tensile, compressive, flexural, and shear tests. The mechanical characteristics related to each test, such as tensile strength and elastic modulus, were measured. The same process was repeated to produce composite sheets with a combination of carbon fibers and polypropylene matrix. Additionally, digital image correlation analysis was used to measure the shear characteristics of composites with 45-degree fiber orientation. Finally, the mechanical properties of glass fibers and carbon fibers were used to simulate hybrid composites, which combined carbon and glass fibers in the ABAQUS software. By moving the glass and carbon layers symmetrically and simulating the tensile test, the optimal hybrid composite was identified. The results show that placing carbon layers in the core of the composites led to a tensile strength of 155.4 MPa, while placing the carbon layers in the outer layer or middle of the composite resulted in tensile strengths of 145.7 MPa and 136 MPa, respectively. Therefore, the optimal hybrid composite was achieved by placing the carbon layer in the core.