Hygrothermal Impact on Mechanical Behavior of Carbon T300 and S-Glass Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Composites Under Various Stacking Sequences

Glass–carbon-reinforced composites’ polymeric materials are one of the most effective hybrid composites for aviation and oceanic building components. Isolated glass and carbon fibers have recently been supplanted with hybrid FRP composites in order to take full advantage of a hybridization effects. The new research looks at the effects of different fiber stacking sequences on the mechanical characteristics of carbon fiber (T300)/S-glass composite laminates utilizing epoxy as the matrix material that has been made using hand-layup technique. The impact of hybridization on six different carbon (C) and glass (G) stacking configurations (CGGC/CGCG/CCGG/GCCG/GCGC/GGCC) in laminates with [0°/90°] orientations which clearly demonstrate variations in tensile, flexural, and impact properties. Tensile, flexural, and impact characteristics of the manufactured composite laminates were assessed under various acidic environments like HCl, H2SO4, NaCl, and dry environments. The experimental results indicate that the tensile and flexural strengths were decreased due to chemical degradation effect, whereas percentage of elongation at both tensile and flexural cases, as well as the impact strength of composite, were enhanced. Scanning electron microscopy has been used for microstructural characterization to verify the influence of chemical on bonding strength between fiber and matrix. From the examination, it is evident that, under dry condition, efficient load transformation has taken place as well neat fiber distribution to matrix. On the other hand, the fiber pulls out, matrix cracks, and voids were noticed due to chemical integration of fabricated laminates.