Effect of basalt fiber hybridization on mechanical properties of silk fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Failure mechanisms; Hybrid composites; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Silk/basalt fiber
Poor mechanical properties and constraints on production presently limit the utilization of bio-based reinforcing agents to non-structural and structural automotive elements. The conjugation of natural fibre with volcanic rock fibre provides a way to improve the mechanical properties of composites over natural fibre alone. In this study, physico-mechanical properties of hybrid fibre (silk and basalt) reinforced epoxy composites were found by experimentation following acceptable ASTM standards. Hybrid composites were produced by combining silk/basalt fibres in the ratio of 50:0, 25:25 and 30:20, whereas overall weight fraction was maintained at 0.5. The experimental results showed that the performance of combined fibres were superior compared to that of silk fibre bolstered epoxy composites. Among the 2 varieties of hybrids, the silk/basalt (25:25 by weight ratio) combination offered the very best hardness, strength, modulus, and toughness to the epoxy matrix owing to the similar modulus and synergistic interaction between the two reinforcing fibres. The results also steered that the morphology and surface adhesion affected the strength of the hybrid composites. These observations give insight into the advantages of various fibre reinforcements to the mechanical performance of epoxy matrix which is considered to be brittle. The failure mechanisms and the adhesion between fibres and matrix were studied by analysing the photomicrographs of broken coupons. 2020 Elsevier Ltd.
Materials Today: Proceedings, Vol-43, pp. 986-994.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.07.618 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85104245368&doi=10.1016%2fj.matpr.2020.07.618&partnerID=40&md5=c946bf6bbcd85e21c4d32a6b7f04c46e
Darshan S.M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru, 570008, India, Department of Mechanical Engineering, CHRIST Deemed to Be University, Bengaluru, 560029, India; Suresha B., Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru, 570008, India