This study investigates the mechanical enhancement of natural fiber composites through hybridization with synthetic fibers. A hybrid composite was fabricated using chemically treated natural bamboo fibers (treated with 5% NaOH) and woven E-glass fibers within an epoxy matrix using the hand lay-up technique. The mechanical performance was evaluated specifically through Tensile (ASTM D3039) and Flexural (ASTM D790) testing. Experimental results demonstrate that the Bamboo-Glass hybrid composite significantly outperforms the bamboo-only composite. The hybrid composite achieved an Ultimate Tensile Strength of 83.83 MPa and a Young’s Modulus of 74.12 GPa, compared to 46.87 MPa and 63.12 GPa for the bamboo fiber composite, respectively. Furthermore, the Flexural Strength of the hybrid composite was recorded at 183.22 MPa, substantially higher than the 73.67 MPa observed in the non-hybrid samples. These findings confirm that hybridizing bamboo fibers with glass fibers effectively overcomes the inherent mechanical limitations of natural fibers, yielding a material with superior strength and stiffness suitable for semi-structural applications.
Enhancement of Mechanical Properties in Epoxy Composites via Bamboo and Glass Fiber Hybridization
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