Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel

This study investigates the mechanical and thermal enhancements achieved in polymer matrix composites (PMCs) through hybrid reinforcement using carbon, glass, and steel fibers. The composites were fabricated via the hand layup technique and evaluated through tensile and flexural testing, as well as...

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Main Authors: Surendernath Purna, Rao Pothamsetty Kasi V., Satish Kumar Manduva Venkata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2025-0068
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author Surendernath Purna
Rao Pothamsetty Kasi V.
Satish Kumar Manduva Venkata
author_facet Surendernath Purna
Rao Pothamsetty Kasi V.
Satish Kumar Manduva Venkata
author_sort Surendernath Purna
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the mechanical and thermal enhancements achieved in polymer matrix composites (PMCs) through hybrid reinforcement using carbon, glass, and steel fibers. The composites were fabricated via the hand layup technique and evaluated through tensile and flexural testing, as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrate that hybrid composites exhibit improved microstructural integrity, reduced voids, and enhanced interfacial bonding compared to individual fiber-reinforced composites. TGA and DTA analyses reveal delayed decomposition, lower mass loss rates, and smoother thermal transitions, highlighting superior thermal stability due to hybridization. Mechanical testing shows that carbon–steel composites achieve the highest tensile and flexural strengths, significantly surpassing their single-fiber counterparts. SEM analysis confirms the reduction in defects and superior fiber-matrix interaction in hybrid composites. This study underscores the potential of hybrid reinforcement to optimize the mechanical robustness and thermal efficiency of PMCs, making them ideal for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials
spelling doaj-art-b8db4d27ccce4074a362b05f2476fef62025-08-20T03:46:50ZengDe GruyterJournal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials2191-02432025-08-013411004684510.1515/jmbm-2025-0068Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steelSurendernath Purna0Rao Pothamsetty Kasi V.1Satish Kumar Manduva Venkata2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeshwaram, Andhra Pradesh, 522502, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeshwaram, Andhra Pradesh, 522502, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Kamala Institute of Technology and Science, Singapur, Huzurabad, Telangana, 505468, IndiaThis study investigates the mechanical and thermal enhancements achieved in polymer matrix composites (PMCs) through hybrid reinforcement using carbon, glass, and steel fibers. The composites were fabricated via the hand layup technique and evaluated through tensile and flexural testing, as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrate that hybrid composites exhibit improved microstructural integrity, reduced voids, and enhanced interfacial bonding compared to individual fiber-reinforced composites. TGA and DTA analyses reveal delayed decomposition, lower mass loss rates, and smoother thermal transitions, highlighting superior thermal stability due to hybridization. Mechanical testing shows that carbon–steel composites achieve the highest tensile and flexural strengths, significantly surpassing their single-fiber counterparts. SEM analysis confirms the reduction in defects and superior fiber-matrix interaction in hybrid composites. This study underscores the potential of hybrid reinforcement to optimize the mechanical robustness and thermal efficiency of PMCs, making them ideal for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering.https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2025-0068composite materialcarbon fiberglass fibersteel meshepoxy resinepoxy hardener
spellingShingle Surendernath Purna
Rao Pothamsetty Kasi V.
Satish Kumar Manduva Venkata
Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials
composite material
carbon fiber
glass fiber
steel mesh
epoxy resin
epoxy hardener
title Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
title_full Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
title_fullStr Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
title_short Enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon, glass and steel
title_sort enhancing mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy based polymer matrix composites through hybrid reinforcement with carbon glass and steel
topic composite material
carbon fiber
glass fiber
steel mesh
epoxy resin
epoxy hardener
url https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2025-0068
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AT raopothamsettykasiv enhancingmechanicalandthermalpropertiesofepoxybasedpolymermatrixcompositesthroughhybridreinforcementwithcarbonglassandsteel
AT satishkumarmanduvavenkata enhancingmechanicalandthermalpropertiesofepoxybasedpolymermatrixcompositesthroughhybridreinforcementwithcarbonglassandsteel