Fabrication and mechanical performance of bark cloth/glass ber reinforced hybrid polymer composites for automotive applications

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with bark cloth ( Ficus natalensis) and glass ber in a polyester resin matrix. Composites were fabricated using the hand layup technique with varying ber weight fractions (15%, 20%, and 25%) and hybrid ratios (3:1, 2:2, 1:3). The inuence of hybrid ratio and stacking sequence on exural, tensile, compressive, and impact strengths was evaluated. Results indicated that composites with higher glass ber content exhibited superior mechanical performance, with optimal exural (140.94 MPa), tensile (43.24 MPa), compressive (26.47 MPa), and impact strengths (32.44 kJ/m²) at a 1:3 hybrid ratio. Hybridization improved the mechanical properties of the composites, particularly exural strength, which was signicantly affected by stacking sequence. These ndings suggest that bark cloth/glass ber hybrid composites have potential for applications in automotive and structural industries.