Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Performance of Hybrid Reinforced Composite for Various Sports and Automotive Application

This research examines the progress of polymer matrix composites made from epoxy resin reinforced with banana, basalt, coir, and E-glass fibers using the hand lay-up technique. The natural fibers provide benefits such as affordability, superior mechanical properties, biodegradability, and non-abrasiveness. The investigation looks into the mechanical properties – tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness – of the hybrid composites with varying fiber volume fractions (5%, 10%, and 15%). Alkaline treatments were used to enhance fiber-matrix compatibility. Three hybrid combinations (EBbC, ECbB, and BEbC) were developed in accordance with ASTM standards. The results revealed that the BEbC composite exhibited the highest tensile (377.23 MPa) and flexural (423.88 MPa) strengths at 15% volume fraction, while the ECbB composite demonstrated the highest impact strength (93.21 J) at 15% volume fraction.