Effect of stacking sequence on banana-aramid hybrid laminate properties

Growing demand for lightweight, durable, and sustainable materials has increased interest in hybrid natural-synthetic fiber composites for structural and wear-critical applications. Research and industrial adoption are strong in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region, with Europe leading automotive and construction sectors due to sustainability-driven policies. This study examined the effect of stacking sequence on the mechanical, tribological, and hygroscopic performance of banana-aramid hybrid epoxy laminates fabricated by compression moulding. Four configurations were evaluated: all-banana (A), aramid-skinned banana core (B), alternating banana-aramid layers (C), and aramid-dominated laminates (D). Tensile, compressive, impact, hardness, water absorption, and wear properties were assessed. Sample C showed the highest tensile strength (36.80 MPa), while Sample D exhibited superior compressive strength (45.56 MPa), hardness (77 Shore D), impact resistance (13.89 kJ/m2), lowest water absorption (0.0712%), and best wear resistance (0.0006 mm). These results confirm that optimized stacking sequences enable high-performance, sustainable hybrid composites.