Exploring the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Novel Abaca/Aramid Hybrid Composite with CaCO3 Filler

• Published in: Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Series D Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 989 - 1000
• Main Authors: Datta, Aluru V. Siva Charana, Sudarshan, G., Shaik, Mahaboob Subhani, Sankarasubramanian, Hariharan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aramid fibers; Calcium carbonate; Compressive strength; Engineering; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Fillers; Hybrid composites; Impact analysis; Impact strength; Mechanical properties; Original Contribution; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Vegetable fibers; Thermal properties; Mechanical properties; Abaca/Aramid; CaCO; Hybrid composite
• ISSN: 2250-2122; 2250-2130
• DOI: 10.1007/s40033-023-00559-7

Natural fibre-reinforced composites’ thermal properties and longevity present specific challenges when used in real-world use cases that require attention. For this reason, the prospect of hybrid composites has been widely acclaimed, as they open possibilities for developing low-cost, high-strength materials. In this work, we have chosen a 50–50 combination of Abaca (plant-based fibre) and Aramid (synthetic fibre) fibre-reinforced epoxy-based hybrid composite. This work explores the effect of CaCO 3 filler in the chosen 50–50 hybrid composite. The levels of filler addition were controlled at 4%, 8%, and 12% of CaCO 3 by weight of the composite. To analyse the impact on mechanical properties, composite samples were subjected to various tests, including tensile, compressive, flexural, impact, and TGA. The inclusion of CaCO 3 filler resulted in improved tensile, flexural, and impact strength, while the compression strength remained unaffected. It was found that the thermal stability was not similar for the sample made of Abaca/Aramid hybrid composite and Abaca/Aramid fibres individually.