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Carbon–Kevlar intraply hybrid fabric polymer composites: mechanical performance

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Abstract

The emerging needs for lightweight structural materials with high performance eagerly await the hybridization of materials with high stiffness and toughness. Kevlar polymer composites protect against ballistic impacts and sharp objects but suffer from poor compressive strength and stiffness. This work attempts to hybridize Kevlar and carbon yarns in the fabrics used to fabricate the composite and evaluate the effects of carbon fiber hybridization on the mechanical performance of hybrid fabric composites. Intraply hybridized carbon–Kevlar (C–K) composite laminates are manufactured through a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. Performance parameters, such as strength and failure limits, of the composites are experimentally evaluated under tensile, compressive, flexural, and low-velocity impact loading. Warp and weft, both directions, are considered for load application under each testing category, enabling the performance evaluation in longitudinal and transverse directions. Scanning electron microscopy is used to identify the breaking patterns and failure mechanisms of fibers, matrix, and overall laminates. The mechanical test results indicate that the hybridization pattern and direction of carbon yarn in the carbon–Kevlar hybrid fabric significantly affect the modulus and strength. The tabulated test data claim that elastic modulus increases by 30% equal to 10.18 GPa under tensile loading, flexural modulus by 29% equal to 36.9 GPa under three-point bend loading and the compressive strength by 57% equal to 166 MPa under compression loading geometry for C–K composites having carbon yarns in load direction when compared with the monolithic Kevlar composites. The results may indicate the suitability of C–K hybrid composites in structural applications that require high strength and optimal protection against ballistic impacts in defense and aviation sectors.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The research work has been financially supported by the Defense Research and Development Organization-ARMREB, Govt. of India under Grant No: ARMREB/MAA/2019/213.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, 302017, India

    Pragati Priyanka & Harlal Singh Mali

  2. Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, G.B.P. Government Engineering College, New Delhi, 110020, India

    Anurag Dixit

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  1. Pragati Priyanka
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  2. Harlal Singh Mali
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  3. Anurag Dixit
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Contributions

PP: conceptualization, methodology, investigation, visualization, writing—original draft preparation; HSM: supervision, visualization, writing—reviewing and editing; AD: visualization, writing—reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Pragati Priyanka.

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The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. The authors declare no conflict of interest concerning the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Priyanka, P., Mali, H.S. & Dixit, A. Carbon–Kevlar intraply hybrid fabric polymer composites: mechanical performance. Iran Polym J 32, 633–645 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01150-3

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