Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the mechanical characteristics of hybrid sisal fibre (SF)/glass fibre (GF) reinforced composites with various weight % of nSiC fillers (nano silicon carbide). SF/GF/nSiC reinforced hybrid composite materials were developed following ASTM specifications using the vacuum infusion technique.

Method: The resulting composites were then evaluated for their tensile, impact, hardness, and flexural characteristics. The findings reveal that none of the composites can imitate the GF composite's mechanical advantages despite hybridization and the nanofiller addition. The hybrid composite laminates with 2 wt.% nSiC show better mechanical response than competing hybrid composites.

Results: The GF/SF/2%nSiC composite's impact strength and shore D hardness of the GF/SF/2%nSiC composite are 1.25 and 1.2 times greater than those of the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites. The GF/SF/2%nSiC composites exhibit 1.64, 1.5, and 1.8 times higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, and toughness modulus than the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites. The GF/SF/2%nSiC composite has a flexural modulus and strength of 1.22 and 1.41 times higher than the GF/SF/3%nSiC composites.

Conclusion: The improved mechanical properties of the GF/SF/2%nSiC composite can be attributed to the firm bond between the fibre and matrix, the uniform dispersion of nanofillers, and reduced porosity.

Keywords: Hybrid composite, nanofillers, vacuum infusion, tensile strength, flexural strength.