Mechanical and Acoustic Behavior of PALF/Glass Fiber Hybrid Laminates Composite: Impact of Stacking Sequences

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is a naturally occurring, renewable, and environmentally sustainable material obtained from the foliage of the pineapple plant. The quantity of waste generated by pineapple leaves is one of Malaysia's biggest contributors to agro-waste. Integrating the unique properties of both; glass fiber and natural fiber, the hybrid composite has relatively low mechanical, physical, and thermal properties compared to glass fiber. The bespoke fabrication of the structural design of the composite enhances the mechanical and physical properties of the hybrid composite to satisfy specific applications. Tailoring stacking sequences and ply orientation is a promising method to enhance the aforementioned properties. The impact of stacking sequences on the mechanical and acoustic behavior of pineapple leaf fiber/glass fiber hybrid laminate composite was investigated. The hybrid laminates with resin epoxy are fabricated using a vacuum infusion technique. The stacking sequences are divided into four types: pure glass fiber, PALF interior/glass fiber exterior, glass fiber interior/PALF exterior, and alternate stacking: glass fiber/PALF/glass fiber/PALF. Tensile and flexural tests were performed in accordance with ASTM D3039 and ASTM D2764, respectively. The acoustic properties were differentiated using a sound impedance tube to obtain the value of the sound absorption coefficient. Pure glass fiber laminate exhibits the highest tensile strength at 163.65 MPa, while the exterior PALF laminate demonstrates the greatest flexural strength at 173.86 MPa. Additionally, the pure glass fiber laminate has a sound absorption coefficient of 0.95 at 2000 Hz, indicating its superior ability to absorb sound compared to the other laminates.