Study on Mechanical Properties and Fracture in Epoxy Composites Reinforced by Hybrid Twill Fabrics

The aim of this study is to determine the influence of hybrid twill fabrics on the conception of polymer composites in terms of their mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms. Parameters associated with the type and/or process of hybridization, such as the presence or not of anisotropy, are influential factors in the final performance of these materials. For this, two composite laminates were manufactured, each containing four layers of reinforced hybrid twill fabrics made from Kevlar-49/AS4 carbon and Kevlar-49/E-glass fibers, with a high-performance epoxy vinyl ester as matrix. Mechanical properties were performed for uniaxial tensile, three-point bending and uniaxial compression tests. The type of hybrid twill fabric directly affected the mechanical properties and damage mechanism of the laminates studied for all loads applied. Highlight that specimens tested to carbon direction exhibited better mechanical behavior.