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Synthesis of the Hybrid Polymer Matrix Composite Material by Using Hand

Lay-Up Technique

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Science Signpost Publishing
Biological and Chemical Research 1 (2018) 102-108

Synthesis of the Hybrid Polymer Matrix Composite

Material by Using Hand Lay-Up Technique
Abd almumem Abas1, Ekhlas I. Kader2, Amani J. Abdulrahman3
1,2&3. Chemical Department, University of Diyala/ College of Engineering, Al-Qodous cross, Baqoubah, Iraq

Received: May 12, 2018 / Accepted: June 12, 2018 / Published: July 16, 2018

Abstract:
The objective of this research is synthesis a hybrid polymer matrix composites material (PMCs) by using hand lay-up technique. A
hybrid polymer composite material was prepared from two polymers were epoxy resin and resole resin after that reinforced by two
types of fibers, it was used carbon fibers and glass fibers, where was weight ratio for epoxy (90 wt %) and for resole was (10 wt %) and
has been used the fibers in the form of a plain woven and with volumetric fracture (20%). Mechanical properties such as tensile strength,
impact strength and hardness were evaluated in this research by two cases, the first case for the epoxy and resole blend only and second
case for a hybrid composite material.

Key words: Hybrid composite material, Mechanical properties, Hand Lay-Up Technique.

1. Introduction
Now days, the composite engineers are focusing on the development of new stronger, tougher, lightweight
structural materials supporting latest technologies and design concepts for the complex shaped structures like
aircraft, automotive structures and large wind turbine blade structures [1]. The development of composite
materials improves their performance based on the reinforcement of two or more fibers in a polymeric matrix,
which leads to the advanced material system called hybrid composites with a great diversity of material properties
[2]. This is a major challenge that can only be met through an understanding of the relationships between
materials architecture and mechanical response. None of the mechanical properties, excluding the fracture
energies show signs of a positive hybrid effect [3]. J. Zhang and K. Chaisombat (2012) has conducted research on
the tensile, flexural and compressive responses of woven hybrid composites by using different arrangement and
glass/carbon ratio. They concluded that the ratios of glass/carbon FRP composites in 50:50 have improved the
tensile, flexural and compressive strength effectively [4]. Manders and Bader (1981) reported hybrid effect and
failure strain enhancement of up to 50% for the glass fiber/carbon fiber/epoxy composite. The failure strain of the
carbon phase increased as the relative proportion of carbon fiber was decreases and as the carbon fibers were more
finely dispersed [5]. Yerramalli and Waas (2003) have considered carbon/ glass hybrid composite with an overall
fiber volume fraction of 30%. Splitting and kinking failures were noted while loading the hybrid laminates under
static and dynamic loading rates [6]. The advantages of fiber-reinforced PMCs over traditional materials include
greater mechanical strength, lighter weight, better dimensional stability, higher dielectric strength, corrosion
resistance and flexibility to improve the designs [7]. The effectiveness of reinforcement essentially depends on the
adhesion between matrix and fiber, so this is a key factor in determining the final properties of the composite
material, particularly its mechanical properties [8].

Corresponding author: Amani J. Abdulrahman

2 Biological and Chemical Research

The purpose of this study is to evaluated the mechanical properties of the hybrid matrix composite material
and study the effect of carbon fiber and glass fiber on its mechanical properties.

2. Materials and Methods

The E-glass fibers and carbon fibers are selected as reinforcements and blend of epoxy and resole as matrix
material. Epoxy resin and hardener supplied by (Sikadur®-52 Injection Type N). Resole is synthesized under
basic conditions with the formaldehyde (F) and phenol (p) molar (F/p>1) and it is curing by heating. The carbon
fibers of bi- directional woven with density 1.81 g/cm³. The glass fiber of bi-directional woven with density 2.58
g/cm³ were used. The glass fiber and carbon fiber used in the fabrication of hybrid fiber reinforced composites are
shown in the figures 1, 2.

Fig. 1 The glass fiber. Fig. 2 The carbon fiber.

In this study, epoxy resin was mixed by (90 wt%) with resole resin with a weight percent of (10 wt%). The
epoxy resin is mixed with the resole resin without the addition of the epoxy hardener. The mixing is continued for
two hours to obtain a homogeneity and no bubbles blend that may be formed during the mixing process and the
mixture process accrued at room temperature. The epoxy and resole blend is reinforced by cutting the fibers with
the same dimensions as the mold used and then weighting the fibers, by using volumetric friction (20%) and by
using the rule of mixture, may be determine the weight ratio of the fibers from the total weight of the blend. The
method of the work is to pour a quantity of the blend into the mold and then put the first layer of fiber and then
put the amount of the blend and continue to get a composite material reinforced with three layers of fibers. Table
(1) shows the type of samples used in this work, and then put a plate of glass over the mold to ensure adhesion of
fiber layers together and to prevent the formation of air bubbles between the layers, then it left at room
temperature for 24 hours and then ejected from the mold and placed in the oven drying at 60 ° C for 8 hours to
complete the process of solidification and to eliminate the stresses that may have been formed during the process
of reinforcing. Finally, the samples are cut according to the standard specification for each test. Table (2) shows
the standard dimensions of samples used in the present work.
 Biological and Chemical Research 3

Table 1
The type of mixtures used in the work.
No. of samples Content
B1 Epoxy (90 Wt%)+Resole(10Wt%)

B1 reinforced with two layers of

B2 carbon fibers and one layer of glass
fiber

B3 B1 reinforced with two layers of glass

fibers and one layer of carbon fiber

Table 2
Samples dimensions and standard specifications for testing samples.
Standard
Test Samples Dimension
Specification

Tensile
ASTM-D638M
Test

Hardness
ASTM-D2240
Test

Impact
ASTM-256
Test

.
4 Biological and Chemical Research

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Tensile strength

The tensile test was carried out according to the standard specifications (ASTM-D638) by using tensile
machine (computer controlled universal testing machine) with model WDW-50.

T p m n l l o n n on o on n l
po ol l n m l o n in tensile values to 532 Mpa for sample B2 and to 362 Mpa
for sample B3. Resin is brittle material also it has low tensile strength, where the blend of epoxy and resole has
low tensile strength but when reinforced with fibers the tensile strength become higher where addition of fibers to
resins improves their tensile strength significantly where the fiber bears a large part of the load which increases
the tensile strength of the composite material because the fibers are characterized by their low ductility [9].

600
Ultimate tensile strength(Mpa)

500

400

300

200

100

0
B1 B2 B3

Fig.3 The Ultimate tensile strength of hybrid polymer matrix composites.

3.2 Hardness

Hardness test was conducted using Shore D hardness instrument for measuring the hardness of polymeric
materials. Shore D is a device similar to a compass measures the hardness of polymeric materials by measuring
the depth of indentation or penetration on a scale of 0 to 100. The device contains a needle in the middle with 1.4
mm diameter and 30° conical point.

The experimental results shown in figure pl on o on n l

po ol l n m l o n n n o o mpl n o o mpl
Non-reinforced resins have less hardness than reinforced resins, especially fiber-reinforced resins where hardness
of resin become high value when reinforced the resin by fibers, because of the distribution of load on fiber, which
reduces the penetration rate of the surface of the composite material and raises the values of hardness [9]. In
 Biological and Chemical Research 5

addition, the increase in the hardness in the composites is the indication of good bonding between blend matrix
and fibers [10].

90

80

70
Hardness Shore D

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
B1 B2 B3

Fig.4 Hardness test of hybrid polymer matrix composites.

3.3 Impact strength

Impact test was conducted using impact test instrument type of charpy for measuring the impact fracture
energy of polymeric materials.

T p m n l l o n n l on o on n l
po % resole blend matrix leads to increase the impact resistance to 211.15 KJ/m² for sample B2 and to
113.37 KJ/m² for sample B3. The impact strength test is a practical method that gives a suitable indication of the
fracture strength of the material and its resistance to fracture under stress at high speed [11]. The energy needed to
fracture of the sample before reinforcement is (0.36 J), while the results show that the energy needed to fracture of
the samples after the reinforcement by fiber increases to (3.4J) for B2 and to (2.2J) for B3 is due to fact that the
fibers of various types store most of the elastic energy of the composite material, as it bears the bulk of stress ratio
to the matrix material. Thus, the fiber works to distribute stress on a larger volume and reduces the possibility of
concentration of stress in a particular area as well as it acts as obstacles to crack propagation and prevent the
growth of small cracks that occur as a result of impact [12].
6 Biological and Chemical Research

250

200
Impact strength(KJ/m²)

150

100

50

0
B1 B2 B3

Fig.5 Impact strength of hybrid polymer matrix composites.

4. Conclusions
From the present work may be concluded the following important points:
1- Low tensile strength, hardness and impact strength of the blend (epoxy – resole).
2- The values of tensile strength, hardness and impact strength of the blend (epoxy-resole) were
improved when reinforced with fibers.
3- Carbon fiber gives best mechanical properties for the blend when the blend reinforces with two
layers of carbon fibers comparison with other mixtures.

Acknowledgments

Authors wishing to acknowledge assistance and encouragement from colleagues in the Materials
Engineering Department, Applied Sciences Department, University of Technology, Baghdad-Iraq.

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