Impact properties of natural fiber hybrid reinforced epoxy composites

The hybrid composites were fabricated by taking cheaply available empty fruit bunch fibers and jute fibers trilayers as reinforcement in epoxy matrix using simple hand lay-up-technique. Thermal, mechanical and morphological properties were characterized. The notched izod impact strength of most hybrids increased with respect to the virgin matrix. The laminates coupled with 2-Hydoxy ethyl acrylate (HEA) showed better impact properties than the one without coupling agent. The addition of fibers and coupling agent considerably improved the thermal stability (i.e., decomposition and residue content) of the hybrids. The thermal properties measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that fibres and coupling agents improved thermal properties. The impact fractured composite specimens were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to know the morphological behaviour.