Mechanical Characterization of MWCNTs Reinforced Jute/Glass-Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Abstract:

The crucial role of hybridization in composite research lies in combining different materials to leverage their strengths, creating superior properties and functionalities, leading to enhanced performance and diverse applications. In this research, MWCNTs are chosen as fillers due to their well-known attributes of high mechanical strength. The Hand layup technique was employed to develop the hybrid composite, incorporating MWCNT particles at four different weight fractions (0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, and 2%) it was observed that 1wt% provided optimal properties, beyond which a decline occurred. Mechanical strength analysis was carried out experimentally, focusing on tensile, flexural, and impact strength of the composite. This study examines the impact of filler weight percentage and fiber orientation on mechanical properties of jute-glass-epoxy composites .The results demonstrated a notable impact of increasing reinforcement weight % on the composite's mechanical performance. Specifically, the tensile strength showed a remarkable improvement of 25%, while flexural strength saw a significant increase of 30%, and the impact strength exhibited a notable enhancement of 18.2%.Microstructural analysis using SEM is employed to understand the dispersion of MWCNTs within the jute-glass epoxy matrix and their influence on the composite's mechanical behaviour. These findings highlight the potential of MWCNT reinforcement to improve mechanical properties of jute and glass-based hybrid composites, making them attractive candidates for various engineering applications.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1149)
• Pages: 71-78
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-zMxQa9
• Online since: May 2025
• Authors: Middemedi Bhargav, V. Suresh Babu*
• Keywords: Fiber Orientations, Mechanical Strength, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Weight Fractions

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