Enhancement of mechanical and structural characteristics through the hybridization of carbon fiber with Cordia-dichotoma/polyester composite

Single fiber polymer composites containing either natural or artificial fibers may not deliver the desired characteristics. The current study used the hand-layup technique to make a hybrid composite by incorporating the natural fiber, Cordia-dichotoma (CD) and artificial fiber, carbon fibers (CF) in a polyester matrix and compressing the mixture for the desired size. The current study investigates the influence of carbon fiber loading (0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) on the mechanical, structural, and crystalline properties of CD/polyester composites keeping the total fiber loading at 20 wt%. Mechanical properties are investigated with a universal testing machine, and impact strength using Izod impact apparatus. Better mechanical properties (tensile strength-457.38 MPa; flexural strength-290.09 MPa and impact strength-346.46 J/m) were obtained for the pure carbon fiber composite arranged in four layers (CF/CF/CF/CF), followed by hybrid composite (CF/CD/CD/CF) (tensile strength-319.24 MPa; flexural strength-253.03 MPa and impact strength-291.34 J/m) whereas pure CD fiber (CD/CD/CD/CD) composite yielded the lowest values (tensile strength-117.96 MPa; flexural strength-164.99 MPa and impact strength-118.11 J/m). Composites undergo hybridization, which improves their mechanical properties, lowers their cost, and makes them more environmentally friendly. The characteristics of the specimens were examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). According to findings, crystallinity index is increased from 77.94% for CD/CD/CD/CD composite and increased to 78.21% for CF/CD/CD/CF composite. Highest crystallinity index of 82.46% was obtained for CF/CF/CF/CF composite. These hybrid composites may be used for applications involving medium loads.