Hybridization of Hemp Fiber and Recycled-Carbon Fiber in Polypropylene Composites

In recent years there has been a substantial growth in the use of natural fiber reinforced composite in more advanced applications. However, high strength applications require high mechanical properties. Hybridization of natural fibers with synthetic fibers is an effective method of increasing the field of application and mechanical properties. The effects of hybridizing hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fiber with recycled-carbon fiber were investigated in this study to determine the trends in mechanical properties resulting from varied weight fractions. Characterization of void content was accomplished using micro computed tomography (micro-CT). Through hybridizing hemp fiber and recycled carbon fiber in a polypropylene thermoplastic, a new class of high performance, low cost composites were demonstrated for injection molding applications. This study showcased a 10-15% increase in tensile strength after the reinforcement of recycled-carbon fiber with hemp fiber. A 30-35% increase was observed in the flexure strength after the reinforcement of recycled-carbon fiber with hemp fiber. Impact strength also had an increase of 35-40% for hemp fiber reinforced recycled-carbon fiber polypropylene composites.