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 ([C2G8], [C3G7], and [C4G6]) along with a plain glass ([G10]) and carbon ([C10]) fiber-reinforced polymer composites are fabricated using hand lay-up method. The results revealed that [C2G8] type hybrid composite possessed optimum flexural strength (394.35 MPa), resistance to low-velocity impact (92.42 J), Charpy impact strength (160 kJ/m2), and minimum specific wear rate (22.87 × 10–3 mm3/Nm) in comparison to other hybrid composites. The damaged area due to low- velocity impact was found to be least for [C2G8] 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.