Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Performance of Glass/Epoxy Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers

The use of epoxy-based composites has increased significantly due to their wide range of applications across various industries. However, these composites often require enhanced mechanical properties tailored to specific applications through the incorporation of different types of reinforcements. In this study, the effect of natural fibers on the mechanical properties (flexural strength, tensile strength, and impact energy) of composites based on two types of epoxy resins (LR202 and Sikadur®-52 LP) was investigated using the hand lay-up method. Different reinforcement fibers (fiberglass, cotton, and jute) were incorporated at various percentages. The results indicate that, among composites reinforced with a single type of fiber, the highest mechanical properties were obtained with 15% fiberglass. However, increasing the percentage of fiberglass in hybrid epoxy composites does not always lead to improved mechanical performance. The highest maximum flexural strength was achieved in a hybrid composite reinforced with 3% cotton, 7% jute, and 5% fiberglass, while the highest impact energy was observed in composites containing 5% cotton, 3% jute, and 7% fiberglass. In addition, reducing the fiberglass content while increasing the proportion of natural fibers such as jute and cotton resulted in a significant enhancement in the impact energy and flexural strength of the composites.