Synthesis of glass FRP-natural fiber hybrid composites (NFHC) and its mechanical characterization

Abstract This research paper presents the synthesis of Glass-Fiber Reinforced Plastic (Glass-FRP) and Natural Fiber-Hybrid Composites (NFHC) using Hand Lay-up techniques. The aim of the this research is on assessing mechanical characteristics of composites made from different natural fibers, including jute, flax, coir, and hair fibers. The study sought to evaluate the influence of natural fiber addition on mechanical characteristics of the composite material and to emphasize the significance of altering fiber type, orientation, resin type, and curing conditions to optimize composite characteristics for particular applications. The mechanical characteristics of these composites were evaluated using tensile and flexural testing. This study significantly enhances the mechanical properties of Glass-FRP composites by incorporating Jute fibers, showcasing a superior tensile strength of 71.29 MPa and the highest flexural strength of 67.73 MPa. The investigation showed that the combination of natural and glass fibers may produce a lightweight, highly-strengthen composite material with enhanced mechanical characteristics that can be employed in a wide range of technical applications.