Improvement of Low-Velocity Impact and Abrasive Wear Resistance of Carbon/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composites

The present investigation focuses on the design and development of low-cost carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymer hybrid composite with optimum flexural strength and modulus, Charpy impact strength, resistance to low-velocity impact, and abrasive wear. There are three hybrid composites ([C(2)G(8)], [C(3)G(7)], and [C(4)G(6)]) along with a plain glass ([G(10)]) and carbon ([C-10]) fiber-reinforced polymer composites are fabricated using hand lay-up method. The results revealed that [C(2)G(8)] type hybrid composite possessed optimum flexural strength (394.35 MPa), resistance to low-velocity impact (92.42 J), Charpy impact strength (160 kJ/m(2)), and minimum specific wear rate (22.87 x 10(-3) mm(3)/Nm) in comparison to other hybrid composites. The damaged area due to low- velocity impact was found to be least for [C(2)G(8)] type hybrid composite compared to other hybrid composites. Furthermore, fractography analysis was carried out by visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy to make possible structure-property co-relationship.