Study the tensile and fracture toughness properties of hybrid composite consist of blend matrix and natural fibers reinforcement

In this work, blend containing 90% epoxy resin (EP) and 10% polyurethane (Pu) by weight percentages was used as matrix, natural fibers woven (cotton, jute and silk) were used as reinforcement, which arranged by 0°/90° orientation, combination (45°/-45° and 0°/90°) orientation and hybrid laminate sorted by three arrangement. Vacuum infusion method was used to prepare the specimens. Tensile and single-edge notch bending tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties and fracture toughness. Ansys workbench software was used to simulate and verify the results. The obtaining results showed that, the mechanical properties and ĸIC of cotton composites were improved, when hybridized by Jute overlaps with unidirectional flax as Intra-ply (JF), jute/ silk short fibers mixed randomly and silk (Hcjf, Hcjs and Hcs), sequentially.