Effect of stacking sequence on physical, mechanical and tribological properties of glass–carbon hybrid composites

: A study was done to determine the effect of best stacking sequence (position and orientation) on the mechanical properties, friction and wear response of hybrid composites. The main purpose of the study was to determine the best available stacking sequence for which the physical, mechanical and three body abrasive wear rate is optimum. Test for mechanical properties (tensile strength, flexural strength, inter laminar shear strength, impact strength and hardness) was done on glass–carbon hybrid composites. The composites were then subjected to test for three body abrasive wear on a designed experimental setup. Five different factors (sliding velocity, fabric weight percentage, normal load, sliding distance and abrasive particle size) varied in steps to evaluate the friction and three body abrasive wear response of the composites. The design of experiment using Taguchi’s orthogonal array and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to find out minimum specific wear rate. The results revealed the significance in arrangement of two different layers of fabric (glass and carbon) and the difference in properties obtained by them. Using Taguchi experimental analysis it has been observed that three body abrasive wear rate is minimum at 72 cm/s sliding velocity, 30 wt.% fabric content, 80 N normal load, 90 m sliding distance and 125 μ m abrasive particle size. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies revealed the dynamics of three-body abrasive wear and underlying micro-mechanisms that result in the analysis of three body abrasive wear.


Introduction
Polymer matrix composite is emerged as a better substitute for high strength and light weight applications. The continuous increasing demand for better substitute in newer dimensions gives rise to the increasing research in the field of composites. Strength and continuous use of composite material for particular applications depends on number of factors, i.e., by modifying specific factor needed for particular application which enhances the durability of the composite material [1,2]. Check for mechanical properties is essential in determining certain properties needed for various applications in the field of composites. Hybrid composites consist of two or more constituents of different phases mix in a certain fashion to form composites. Hybrid composite materials are designed for specific duty applications. The properties of composites can be improved by careful design of the hybrid configuration [3,4]. Commonly two or more different fibers or fibers and fillers are mixed/arranged together in certain fashion along with matrix to form composites because mixing two or more fibers or fiber-filler in matrix enhances the properties of the composites [5].
Two or more fibers and/or fiber and fillers are mixed together so as to get the advantages of both the fibers/fillers in terms of mechanical properties, thermal properties, and tribological properties (friction, wear, etc.) of the composites. The possible reason for enhanced properties is that fibers and fillers of specific characteristics mixed together in a certain pattern to provide desired properties which cannot be obtained by mixing individual fibers in the matrix [6]. Suresha et al. [7] observed that excellent tribological characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced in vinyl ester is due to thin film formation at the counter phase. Also it has been observed that the worn surfaces showed higher levels of broken glass fiber in vinyl ester compared to carbon vinyl ester composites. Suresha et al. [8] further states that specific wear rate of glass fabric reinforced vinyl ester composites is more than twice as compared to that of carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites. It was observed that Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, toughness and % strain decreased with the increase of fiber orientation angle with respect to loading direction. In-plane shear modulus was highest for fibers with 45°. Overall unidirectional carbon fiber (CF) reinforcement enhanced all strength properties of PEI significantly. Composites with fibers in 0° orientation proved best in almost all the properties [9,10]. The wear volume loss of the composites was found increasing with the increase in abrading distances and under the same conditions the specific wear rate decreases. The hard powders filled glass fabric-epoxy composite systems exhibit lower wear volume loss and lower specific wear rate as compared to unfilled glass fabricepoxy composite system [11][12][13].
Investigations have been done to study the effect of fiber/filler arrangement and/or mixing on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. But relatively small amount of research reported in the literature has focused on the weave pattern, stacking sequence and percentage of fiber reinforcement of fabrics on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. Our aim is to obtain better mechanical properties and reduced wear rate. In this paper bidirectional glass, carbon fabric will be used as reinforcement with thermosetting resin (epoxy) to manufacture hybrid composites to achieve more improved properties than that of single fiber type composites. To determine the correct sequence for the arrangement of glass fabric and carbon fabric various available stacking sequence are compared. An optimum value obtained from all mechanical properties gives us the value of best stacking sequence. For the available best stacking sequence the samples are then tested for mechanical and tribological properties.

Material and method
The hybrid polymer composite samples comprising of epoxy resin matrix reinforced with long (bidirectional) E-glass fabric (600 GSM) and long (bi-directional) carbon fabric (200 G.S.M, 3k-plain weave) in different weight percentages (10−50 wt.% in steps of 10%). The glass fabric (young's modulus 72.5 GPa and density 2,590 kg/m 3 ) was supplied by Saint Gobian and carbon fabric (young's modulus 123 GPa and density 1,450 Kg/m 3 ) was supplied by The Hindustan Technical Fabrics Limited, India. Epoxy resin (young's modulus 3.42 GPa and density 1,100 kg/m 3 ) and hardener were supplied by Ciba Geigy India Ltd. The epoxy (LY-556) and hardener (HY-951) were mixed in the ratio of 10:1 by weight as recommended by supplier, thereafter alternate layers of glass fabric/carbon fabric and epoxy resin were arranged using hand-lay-up technique until the desired composition was obtained. Apply some weights and leave the composite for solidification at room temperature for 24 hours. After solidification composites were then removed from the mould and marking was done as per the sample dimensions. Thereafter, samples of appropriate dimensions were cut suiting to various studies.

STEP-1: Based on stacking sequence
Five types of hybrid laminates were prepared: First laminate was prepared with all the seven layers of glass fabric arranged one above the other (Fig. 1); second laminate was prepared with two layers of glass fabric at both the ends and remaining three layers of carbon fabric in between; third laminate was prepared with alternate layers of glass and carbon fabric; fourth laminate was prepared with two-two layers of carbon fabric at both the ends with remaining three layers of glass fabric in between the carbon fabric; and lastly fifth laminate was prepared with all the seven layers of carbon fabric arranged one above the other (Table 1).
Note: G -Glass fabric, C -Carbon fabric These five different sequences of arrangement were used to determine the effect of fabric arrangement on the physical and mechanical properties of hybrid composites. Arrangement was also done to compare the properties of individual carbon and glass fabric arrangement with that of combined glass-carbon layers of fabric.

STEP-2: Based on weight percent of fabric reinforced
Based on the results obtained from STEP-1 (alternate layers of glass and carbon fabric) stacking sequence was selected and five different percentages by weight of fabric composites were prepared. Five different percentages (10 wt.%, 20 wt.%, 30 wt.%, 40 wt.% and 50 wt.%) of fabric were reinforced with that of epoxy resin to notice the effect of weight percent of fabric reinforcement on the properties of composites ( Table 2).

Physical and mechanical characterization
The theoretical density of the samples was computed using relation purposed by Agarwal and Broutman [14], i.e., where W f and W m are the weight fraction of fabric and matrix respectively, ρ ct , ρ f and ρ m are the density of the composite material, fabric and matrix resin. The experimental density (ρ ex ) was measured by simple water immersion technique. Thereafter, void fraction (∆v) was computed by normalizing the differences in both densities against the theoretical density, i.e., The tensile strength, flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) were evaluated on universal testing machine (UTM) Instron 1195. The tensile test was done in accordance with ASTM D 3039-79 [15], and dimensions of tensile test specimen was 150 mm × 15 mm × 15 mm. Flexural test was done on specimen having dimensions 150 mm × 15 mm × 15 mm. Specimen was placed on the supports having span length of 50 mm and a cross head speed of 2.54 mm/min was used with which load was applied on the specimen. Testing was done in accordance with ASTM D 2344-84 (ASTM D 256-97, 1984) test standards, while for ILSS [16] the specimen dimensions was 75 mm × 15 mm × 15 mm, and span length of 30 mm at cross head speed of 2.54 mm/min was taken.
Impact tests were done using plastic impact tester following ASTM D256 (ASTM D 256-97, 1999) test standards. Dimensions of the specimen used was 64 mm × 12.7 mm × 3.2 mm, with 45° V-shaped groove at 2 mm depth was used in between the specimen [17]. Micro-hardness measurement was done using a Leitz micro-hardness tester, equipped with a square based pyramidal (angle 136° between opposite faces) diamond indenter by applying a load of 24 N. Vickers hardness number was calculated using the following equation, where H v is the hardness, F is the applied load, L is the diagonal of the square impression and X and Y are the two diagonals of the diamond indenter. The surface morphology studies were performed on SEM CARL ZEISS NTS GMBH, SUPRA 40VP. The specimens were gold coated in order to enhance the conductivity of the samples, thereafter micrographs were taken for detail study of dynamics of wear mechanism.

Experimental design
Optimization was done to determine the effect of process parameters on the quality and optimal cost of the product. Parameters obtained from the Taguchi method can help us in deciding the best design. The Taguchi method reduces the number of iterations to solve the task; the taguchi method uses a special set of orthogonal arrays to solve the problem. Here Taguchi method of experimental approach was used to find optimum parameters from given five variables, viz., fabric content, normal load, sliding distance, abrasive size and sliding velocity as shown in Table 2 and each at five labels. The impact of five such parameters was studied using the L 25 (5 5 ) orthogonal array design. Taguchi factorial experimental approach reduces the number of experiments to 25 runs, which in turn result in great reduction in effort and cost. The experimental observations were further transformed into signal to noise (S/N) ratios. The S/N ratio for three body abrasion can be expressed as "lower is better", which was calculated as logarithmic transformation of loss function as shown below. Smaller is the better characteristic: where n is the number of observations and y is the observed data. As shown in Table 2, the first row is assigned to sliding velocity (A), second row to fabric weight percent (B), third to normal load (C), fourth to sliding distance (D) and fifth to abrasive particle size (E).

Results and discussion
Physical and mechanical properties of hybrid composites are discussed in two parts. The first part discussed the physical and mechanical properties of bidirectional glass fabric and carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites based on stacking sequence, i.e., the arrangement of layers of different fabrics one above the other whereas the second part of mechanical properties is based on percentage of fabric reinforcement with that of matrix and it's over view. Finally, we have discussed the significant of factor settings and their effect on specific wear rate of the composites.

Effect of stacking sequence on the void fraction of glass-carbon hybrid composites
The comparison between theoretical and experimental density of composites is shown in Table 3. As the density of fabric reinforcement increases, the volume fraction of void also tends to increase. Void fraction value represents the presence of pores and voids, i.e., the density of the composites. Presence of void directly or indirectly affects the mechanical properties of composites. Highest void fraction value of 5.156 is noticed in case of glass fabric laminate composites (GC1) whereas lowest void fraction value of 0.705 is noticed in case of hybrid composites (GC3) ( Table 3). Void fraction values are higher when individual glass fabric and carbon fabric composites are used in comparison to that of hybrid composites.  Figure 2 shows the effect of stacking sequence on the hardness of glass-carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites. Maximum value of hardness is obtained for GC3 stacking sequence followed by GC2, GC4, GC1 and GC5, i.e., maximum value of hardness is obtained when alternate layers of glass and carbon fabric are arranged to form a composite and minimum value of hardness is obtained when layers of carbon fabrics alone are used for preparation of composites followed by individual layer of glass fabric alone are used for the preparation of composites, i.e, value of hardness increases when layers of glass fabric and carbon fabric are arranged in a certain pattern to form a composite whereas decreases when composites are prepared with either individual layers of glass fabric or carbon fabric. Figure 3 shows the effect of stacking sequence on the tensile strength of glass-carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites. The tensile strength is more when combined layers of glass and carbon fabrics are used in comparison to that when individual layers of either glass fabrics or carbon fabrics are used for the preparation of composed. Highest tensile strength value for GC3 stacking sequence indicated that tensile strength is maximum when alternate layers of glass and carbon fabrics are used for the preparation of composites and this may be due to better bonding achieved between the layers of glass-carbon fabrics with that of epoxy. Minimum value of tensile strength is obtained when composite are prepared with individual layers of glass fabrics. The descending order of tensile strength is GC3>GC4>GC2>GC5>GC1.

Effect of stacking sequence on ILSS of glass-carbon hybrid composites
Inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) is useful test for composites where the chances for failure of lamina initiate when subjected to shearing stresses. Figure 5 shows the ILSS values for five different compositions, and ILSS values are higher in case of glass-carbon hybrid composites in comparison to that of glass fabric laminate composites and carbon fabric laminate composites. Better interfacial bonding is achieved when carbon fabrics are used with that of glass fabrics. The decreasing order of ILSS of five different tested composites is as follows GC2>GC4>GC3>GC1>GC5.   Based on the above discussion to determine best stacking sequence for glass/carbon fabric hybrid composite, the best stacking sequence (position and orientation) is for GC4, i.e., when two layers of carbon fabric are at both the extreme ends and remaining three layers of glass fabric are in between the carbon fabric layers. The position and sequence of arrangement of fabric in which the properties comes second is for GC3, i.e., when alternate layers of glass and carbon fabrics are arranged in the sequence followed by GC2, GC5 and GC1.    (Table 4). This is because that the percentage of fabrics increases proper bonding is achieved between the layers of fabrics and resin (epoxy). Increase in the percentage of fabric reinforcement also results in increase in value of impact strength and hardness of the composites ( Table 4). As fabrics works as a medium for the transfer and distribution of loads from one end to another, i.e., as the number of fabrics increases the load can effectively be transferred from one end to another resulting in increase in impact absorbing capacity of the material. Increase in hardness is due to the fact that as the percentage of fabric reinforcement increases the structure becomes denser and compact, therefore hardness of the composite specimen increases.

Analysis of experimental results by Taguchi experimental design
In Table 5, the eighth column represents S/N ratio of the specific wear rate of the composites which is in fact the average of two replications. The overall mean for the S/N ratio of the specific wear rate is found to be 29.97 db for hybrid glass-carbon reinforced epoxy based composites. The analysis was made using MINITAB 15 software used for design of experiment applications. It is observed that the abrasive result leads to the conclusion that factor combination of A 2 , B 3 , C 4 , D 5 and E 1 gives minimum specific wear rate for hybrid glass-carbon-epoxy composites. It is observed that abrasive particle size plays dominant role followed by sliding velocity, fabric percentage, normal load and sliding distance, i.e., sliding distance have comparatively negligible effect in the specific wear rate of the composites (Fig. 7).

ANOVA and the effects of factors
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on Taguchi experimental results is performed in order to find out statistical significance of various factors like sliding velocity, fabric loading, normal load, sliding distance and abrasive size on specific wear rate of hybrid. Experimental analysis of ANOVA is done using MINITAB 15 software. Tables 6 and 7 show the results of the ANOVA with the specific wear rate of composites taken in this investigation. This analysis is undertaken for a level of confidence of significance of 5%. The last column of the table indicates that the main effects are highly significant (all have very small p-values) ( Table 6, Column 7). From Table 6, it can be observed for hybrid glasscarbon epoxy based composites that sliding velocity (p = 0.032) and normal load (p = 0.171) have a great influence on specific wear rate (having lower p values). However abrasive particle size (p = 0.217), fabric loading (p = 0.238) and sliding distance (p = 0.340) shows less significant contribution (having higher p values) on specific wear rate of the composites. Therefore, from this analysis it is clear that percentage of sliding velocity and normal load are more suitable for glasscarbon hybrid composites. Table 7 shows the response table for signal to noise   ratio. Rank of various factors is defined based on their contribution in three body specific wear rate analysis. Sliding velocity is ranked first followed by normal load, abrasive particle size, fabric loading and sliding distance.

Surface morphology
Three body abrasion is the phenomenon in which specimen in fixed in the specimen holder and chlorobutyl rubber wheel moves against the surface of the specimen. Free flowing abrasive particles pass in between the specimen and the rubber wheel and in turn create the scenario of three body abrasion. Figure 8(a) shows the surface micrograph of 10 wt.% fabric reinforced glass-carbon hybrid composites. From the figure it is clearly shown that matrix material due to its brittle nature chips off faster than the fabrics, and carbon fabric is clearly shown in the SEM micrographs. For lower sliding velocity (sliding velocity-48 cm/s, normal load-20 N and sliding distance-50 m) and smaller abrasive particle size (125 μm) the amount of wear is less (as shown in Fig. 8(a)). Figure 8(b) shows the surface micrograph at 20 wt.% fabric reinforcement. Here fabrics are exposed to the atmosphere which clearly indicated that fabrics are used to provide hardness and strength to the matrix. Matrix provide the medium for the arrangement of the fabrics in the medium and fabrics transfer loads, fabrics transfer loads among themselves and hence provide strength to the composite. At 72 cm/s sliding velocity, 60 N normal load and 625 μm abrasive particle size the amount of wear increases because bigger size abrasive particles remove more of material resulting in higher wear rate. Figure 8(b) clearly shows the amount of wear mechanism involved and protudement of fiber parts/ends from the composite. The dominant wear mechanisms are fracture and grain pull-out. Figure 8(c) shows the surface micrograph at 30 wt.% fabric reinforcement. Photo micrograph is taken for 100 N normal load and 500 μm abrasive particle size. Due to higher normal load, fabrics are subjected brittle fracture and ends or part of the fabrics are removed during three body abrasion. Right part of the SEM micrograph clearly shows that fibers are detached from the matrix and ends of the fibers are subjected to fracture.
Bigger abrasive particle size also results in increased wear rate as the particles when embedded inside the surface of the specimen. Figure 8(c) represents that part of fabrics are broken and chipped off results in higher specific wear rate. Figure 8(d) shows the surface micrograph for 40 wt.% fabric reinforcement, due to smaller abrasive particle size (125 μm) and lower sliding velocity (72 m/s) part of the matrix material (epoxy) from the surface is removed result in fabrics exposed to the environment.

Conclusion
Based on the above analysis carried out on glasscarbon hybrid composites to investigate the effect of fabric reinforcement, position, orientation on the physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of composites, the following points can be concluded as below: 1. The best stacking sequence (position and orientation) is for GC4, i.e., when two-two layers of carbon fabric are at the extreme ends and remaining three layers of glass fabric are in between the carbon fabric layers.
2. Percentage of fabric reinforcement of glass-carbon hybrid composites has significant effect on mechanical properties of the composites. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, impact strength and hardness increases with the increase in fabric reinforcement from 10 wt.% to 50 wt.%.
3. The values of flexural strength decreases with the increase in percentage of fabric reinforcement whereas slight increase/decrease in ILSS values are noticed with the increase in the percentage of fabric reinforcement, i.e., by analyzing the entire graph it is clear that the ILSS values nearly remains same. 4. In Taguchi experimental analysis it has been observed that composites having factor combination of A 2 , B 3 , C 4 , D 5 and E 1 (where A, B, C, D and E are denoted in Table 2) give minimum specific wear rate.
5. Experimental analysis of test results revealed that sliding distance (p = 0.340) and fabric loading (p = 0.238) have greater influence on specific wear rate whereas other factors have relatively lower significant contribution. 6. From the analysis of SEM micrographs it has been revealed that cracking and fracture are the dominant wear mechanism due to which the wear rate of the composites increases.
7. In future the study can be extended to new polymer composites having different fabric/matrix combinations and the resulting experimental findings can be further analyzed.
Open Access: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.