Effect of Carbon Fibre Ratio to the Impact Properties of Hybrid Kenaf/Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Effects of the incorporation of untreated and treated hybrid kenaf/carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composites on the impact properties were studied. Hybrid kenaf/carbon fibres and thermoset matrices were hand-laid up and characterized in terms of its mechanical properties. The kenaf fibres were alkali treated whilst the carbon fibres were gamma radiation treated before use as reinforcement in the epoxy resin matrix. The reinforcing effects of kenaf hybridized with carbon fibre in epoxy composites were evaluated at various fibre loadings with overall fibre contents 20 wt%. Hybrid composites with different ratios of kenaf fibre : carbon fibre ; 0.9:0.1, 0.8:0.2, 0.7:0.3 and 0.6:0.4 were prepared. Impact tests of untreated and treated hybrid kenaf/carbon fibres were performed. The fractured surfaces of these composites were investigated by using scanning electron microscopic technique (SEM) to determine the interfacial bonding between the matrix and the fibre reinforcement. It was found that the treated hybrid composites increased the impact strength by 26% compared to the untreated ones.