Investigation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Kevlar/e-Glass and Basalt/e-Glass Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Investigation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Kevlar/e-Glass and Basalt/e-Glass Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Composite materials are preferred as an alternate for traditional metals due to its admirable properties like
chemically inactive nature, high strength to weight ratio, ease of fabrication and capability of tailoring into the required
Original Article
shape. In order to apprehend the feasibility of Kevlar/E-glass and basalt/E-glass reinforced epoxy hybrid composites,
this paper studies the low- velocity impact and flexural behavior and electrical conductivity of the composite laminates.
Bend and impact test specimens were prepared as per ASTM 790 standard (80mm X 13mm X 3mm) and ASTM D256,
ASTM D6110 standards respectively. The proportion of fiber and matrix material (75:25) is considered as an important
factor for obtaining better flexural modulus. Izod and Charpy tests reveal that higher fiber volume fraction results in
higher energy absorption. The hybrid composite combinations showed better electrical conductivity.
KEYWORDS: Impact Behavior, Flexural Behavior, Kevlar/E-Glass, Basalt/E-Glass, Hybrid Composite Laminates,
Volume Fraction Hybridization & Electrical Conductivity
Received: Apr 06, 2018; Accepted: Apr 26, 2018; Published: May 22, 2018; Paper Id.: IJMPERDJUN201863
INTRODUCTION
Fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites are considered as the main alternate for the metallic materials
due to its unique properties like cost economic nature, strength to weight ratio and lower density [1].
Carbon fiber plays a dominant role in the aerospace, automobile, marine, sports goods, and other industrial and
construction applications over the past few decades due to its high fatigue resistance, chemical resistance, modulus
and thermal insulation [2]. Even though carbon fiber has all superior properties over other traditional fibers its
applications is limited in the industries due to its brittleness, high electrical conductivity, high cost and catastrophic
failure over impact load [3]. Basalt, kevlar and glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites are purposefully used by
the engineering industries to meet out the increasing demand of advanced materials.
There are the variety of materials and procedures available to produce tailor-made fiber reinforced
composites but for developing composites for specific area or application the developer should familiar with
materials and its properties over various circumstances [4]. The designer should conduct various experiments and
The strength of the fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites depends on the mixing proportion of matrix and
fiber material. Matrix is the main ingredient that joins all fibers together and evenly distributes load among reinforced
fiber layers [6].
Kevlar is a most commercial man-made synthetic fiber used for making specific engineering materials were high
impact resistance and flexibility is needed. The sheet or fabric of kevlar fiber contains aromatic polyamide structure [7].
E-glass fibers are famous reinforcement for fabricating hybrid composites. It has high electrical resistance and modulus.
Basalt rock is processed at 1300-1700 °C for fabricating basalt fibers. Filament winding method is preferably used for
basalt fiber production. Over two decades basalt fiber is used as an economical alternate for carbon fiber due to its high
chemical, abrasion, thermal resistance and strength to weight ratio [8].
From the literature, it was observed that carbon fiber or glass fibers are combined with kevlar fiber to fabricate
hybrid composites. Presently basalt fibers gained special attention as a replacement of glass and carbon fiber due to its
increased physical, chemical and thermal properties. Basalt fibers are also used as temporary patches in the repair of
carbon fibers [9].
Though, epoxies are used as insulators in electrical machineries, switchgears and transformers [10].
The free charge carrier’s presence is very low in concentration; this makes it unsuitable for electronic equipment [11].
In order to achieve different conductivity ranges, epoxies are added with reinforcements for a variety of mechatronics
applications.
Mechanical and electrical characterization is an important milestone in the process of developing new products or
novel material for specific industrial application. The present investigation focuses on the study of low-velocity impact and
flexural properties of polymer matrix composites reinforced with Kevlar/E-glass and basalt/E-glass fabrics.
The fiber fabrics are two dimensional plain woven fabrics (2D-P). Two types of hybrid laminates (Kevlar/E-glass and
basalt/E-glass) with sixteen layers of fibers in each laminate were fabricated with Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding
process (Vacuum bag molding). In order to evaluate the effect of hybridization on mechanical properties such as static low-
velocity impact and flexural behavior and electrical conductivity tests [12].
EXPERIMENTAL
MATERIALS
A matrix material epoxy resin is supplied by CF composites (Maharashtra-Mumbai), was used as polymer bi-
component. Preferably, LY 556 epoxy base (density-1.32 g cm3, viscosity-1450 MPa) and W152 LR resin hardener
(density-0.90 g cm3, viscosity- 32 MPa). Epoxy and hardener mixed in the ratio of 100/30. Kevlar, basalt and E-glass
woven fabric with the areal density of 220 gm2 were utilized as reinforcement [13]. Table 1 shows the composition of
fibers and matrix materials used in this research.
Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11
Investigation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Kevlar/E-Glass 593
and Basalt/E-Glass Reinforced Hybrid Composites
All the three fabrics are plain were basalt and Kevlar fiber is provided by Hindustan composite solutions Mumbai-
India and E-glass fabrics were supplied by Covai Seenu and Company, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-India. The property
details of basalt, Kevlar and glass fabrics are shown in table 2 [14, 15].
Laminates Preparation
The composites were fabricated by using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process (Vacuum bag molding).
Epoxy resin LY 556 and hardener W152 LR are premixed and homogenized at the ratio of 3:1. Volume fraction
calculations were made by the following formulae [16],
Where, Vf= , = h , f = , = h
arix, = , 1 = h 1 , 1 = 1 , 1,2 = h
1st and 2
In this present investigation, two fiber laminates in the combination of kevlar/glass and basalt/glass were
fabricated. In kevlar/E-glass Laminate ware arranged in the order of KK-GG-KK-GG-KK-GG-KK-GG. Similarly in
basalt/E-glass laminate fabrics were stacked in the sequence of BB-GG-BB-GG-BB-GG-BB-GG. All the stacking
sequences were considered symmetric about the neutral axis with the plate size of 300mm x300mm [17]. Finally, the plates
were cut into the required specimens by waterjet machining process and edge surface was smoothened. The fabricated
hybrid laminates are shown in figure 1 (a and b)
(a) (b)
Figure 1: Fabricated Hybrid Laminate:
a) Kevlar/E-Glass Laminate;
b) Basalt/E-Glass Laminate
Characterization
The modulus and stress-strain relationship of kevlar/E-glass and basalt/E-glass fiber laminates were obtained by
performing flexural three-point bending test. The specimens were prepared as per ASTM 790 standard with the dimension
of 80mm x 13mm x 3mm. Tests were carried out an universal testing machine (Instron 4486) having cross head speed of 4
mm/min. The maximum amount of energy required to break the specimen was determined by impact tests. Izod and
Charpy low-velocity impact tests for the unnotched specimens were performed by using AIT-300N pendulum impact
testing machine with a striking velocity of 5.6 m/sec, striking hammer weight of 18.7 kg and 1600 mm of pendulum swing
diameter [18]. The test specimens are prepared as per ASTM D256 (Izod test), ASTM D6110 (Charpy Test) standards. In
each hybrid laminates, three specimens were tested and the mean value of energy absorption is reported [19].
The electrical resistivity was studied by preparing the samples (60 x 6 mm) according to ASTM-F43-99 standard.
Conductive silver epoxy was used to glue the aluminum electrodes and cured for 24 hrs to measure the resistance.
Resistivity was measured using the equation
ρ = R × (A /L)
Where ρ is the resistivity in Ωm, R is resistance in ohms, A is the area in m2 and L is separation length between
the two electrodes in m.
The impact strength of Kevlar/E-Glass reinforced laminates shows high resistance than Basalt/E-glass laminate.
The energy absorption values of both kevlar and basalt hybrid laminates were calculated by Izod impact tester and
results are shown in Table 4. The results displays that kevlar hybrid composites have high impact strength than basalt
composite laminates this effect is due to the interfacial bonding between kevlar and E-glass is remarkably high.
Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11
Investigation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Kevlar/E-Glass 595
and Basalt/E-Glass Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Kevlar/E-Glass laminate has 12% more impact energy absorption nature than basalt laminates.
The volume fraction between matrix and reinforcement also plays important role in the determination of mechanical
properties of hybrid laminates. Generally, higher reinforcement possesses greater mechanical properties.
Flexural Test
The figure 2-5 shows relationship exhibits between force vs. displacement and stress vs. strain curves for the
Kevlar /E-glass and Basalt /E-glass respectively: Kevlar configuration high flexural strength than basalt configuration it is
noted that adding 75% volume fraction of glass fiber with Kevlar shows that flexural strength is twice the basalt/E glass
laminate.
The results of this research confirm the effect on the mechanical properties. The results report that coefficient of
variation of kevlar composite is moderate in the 3 points flexural test, this is because there are no discontinues phase and
the resin distribution is even. When as in basalt laminates coefficient of variation is very high due to high interlaminar
shear stress. It indicates that Kevlar fiber has better coordination with E-Glass fiber than basalt fiber.
The electrical resistivity was measured to quantify the electrical conductivity. Table 5 shows the measured values
of electrical conductivity.
Kevlar /E-Glass laminate sample showed the highest conductivity (or least resistivity) than Basalt /E-Glass
laminate. The Kevlar /E-Glass laminate showed 17 % improved conductivity. The conductivity in the composite samples
increase was due to activation energy that decreases with the presence of Kevlar /E-Glass and Basalt /E-Glass fibers and
the dielectric constant decreases with the increase in frequency
Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11
Investigation of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Kevlar/E-Glass 597
and Basalt/E-Glass Reinforced Hybrid Composites
CONCLUSIONS
Epoxy based Polymer matrix fiber reinforced hybrid composite laminates were fabricated successfully (Vacuum
Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) by combining Kevlar/E-Glass and Basalt/E-Glass fibers and laminate configurations.
The prepared hybrid laminations were characterized to study flexural and impact strength. Volume fraction plays a major
role on the flexural strength of hybrid composites, Kevlar/E-glass combination reported good flexural strength. Kevlar/E-
glass laminates composite revealed high impact strength for both Izod and Charpy tests. Kevlar/E-Glass laminates showed
high impact energy absorption and crack propagation resistance, enhanced damage tolerance and delamination without
catastrophic failure. The electrical conductivity of Kevlar /E-Glass laminate samples showed the highest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank Selvam Composite Material Research Laboratory (SCMRL), Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Selvam College of Technology, Tamilnadu and Vellore institute of technology Chennai, Tamilnadu, for their deliberate
support in completing this work.
REFERENCES
1. P.K. Mallick. Fiber-Reinforced Composites, Materials, Manufacturing and Design: CRC Press, 2003.
3. A. Dorigato, A. Pegoretti. Flexural and impact behaviour of carbon/basalt fibers hybrid laminates. Journal of Composite
Materials. 2014, Vol. 48(9) 1121–1130.
4. Amuthakkannan, Manikandan and Uthayakumar. Mechanical Properties of Basalt and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer
Hybrid Composites. Journal of Advanced Microscopy Research. 2014, Vol. 9, 1–6.
5. Nunna et al. A review on mechanical behavior of natural fiber based hybrid composites. J ReinfPlast Compos 2012, 31:759–
69.
6. R. Sasikumar, M.S. Santhosh, J. Karna, M. Sakthivel, K. Vishnu. Fabrication and mechanical behavior study of fiber
reinforced composites for automobile applications. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering
Technology. 2017, Vol. 5(9), 1599-1604.
7. Pegoretti A, Fabbri E, Migliaresi C, et al. Intraply and interply hybrid composites based on E-glass and poly(vinyl alcohol)
woven fabrics: tensile and impact properties. Polymer Int 2004, 53: 1290–1297.
8. Pawar, Aman S., and Abhishek Gaikwad. "Evolution of A New Hybrid Bio Composite And Evaluation of its Mechanical
Properties."
9. De Rosa IM, Marra F, Pulci G, et al. Post-impact mechanical characterization of E-glass/basalt woven fabric interply hybrid
laminates. Expr Pol Lett 2011, 5: 449–459.
10. Bashar M, Sundararaj U and Mertiny P. Study of matrix micro-cracking in nano clay and acrylic tri-block-copolymer
modified epoxy/basalt fiber-reinforced pressure retaining structures. Expr Pol Lett 2011, 5: 882–896.
11. Zhou1 Y. X., Wu2 P. X., Cheng2, Z-Y., Ingram1 J.and, Jeelani1 S. 2008. Improvement in electrical, thermal and mechanical
properties of epoxy by filling carbon nanotube "Express Polymer Letters 2(1): 40–48.
12. Navin Chand and Deepak Jain 2004. Evaluation of A.C. conductivity behaviour of graphite filled polysulphide modified epoxy
composites. Bull. Mater. Sci., 27(3): 227–233.
13. Landucci G, Rossi F, Nicolella C. Design and testing of innovative materials for passive fire protection. Fire Safety J 2009,
44: 1103–1109.
14. Carmisciano S, De Rosa IM, Sarasini F, Basalt woven fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites: Flexural and electrical
properties. Mater Des 2011, 32: 337–342.
15. Deak T, Czigany T, Marsalkova M, et al. Manufacturing and testing of long basalt fiber reinforced thermoplastic matrix
composites. Polymer EngSci 2010, 50: 2448–2456.
16. Hemanth RD., M. Senthil kumar, Ajithgopinath and Natrayan.L, Evaluation of mechanical properties of E-Glass and Coconut
fiber reinforced with polyester and Epoxy resin matrices, International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering
Research and Development (IJMPERD) 2017, 7(5), 13-20.
17. Jawaid M, Abdul Khalil HPS, Abu Bakar “Woven hybrid composites: Tensile and flexural properties of oil palm- jute fibres
based epoxy composites” Material Science and Engineering A 2011, 528:5190–5.
18. Mishra S, Mohanty AK, Drzal L., Misra M, Parija S, Nayak S. “Studies on mechanical performance of bio-fibre/glass
reinforced polyester hybrid composites” Composite Science and Technology 2003, 63:1377–85.
19. JarukumjornKasama, SuppakarnNitinat. “Effect of glass fiber hybridization on properties of sisal fiber–polypropylene
composites,” Compos Part B: Engineering 2009, 40(7): 623–7.
20. Sudarisman, Davies IJ, “The effects of processing parameters on the flexural properties of unidirectional carbon fibre-
reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites,” Mater SciEng: A 2008, 498:65–8
Impact Factor (JCC): 7.6197 SCOPUS Indexed Journal NAAS Rating: 3.11