Effects of Hybridization on the Impact Performance of Flax-carbon Fiber Composites

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the effect of interlayer hybrid fiber dispersion on the low velocity impact response of the carbon-flax/epoxy hybrid laminates at low carbon volume fractions. Five different hybrid laminates with similar carbon to flax weight ratio but varying stacking sequences were fabricated. Three impact energy levels were selected to produce a non-perforated and a perforated damage state in the hybrid laminates for study. The results showed that the stacking sequence with all the stiffer carbon plies at the impact face does not necessarily lead to enhancement of the impact properties of the hybrid composite. However, shifting the carbon plies to the back face of the plate led to a significant improvement in the damage initiation and the energy absorption behavior compared to the non-hybrid flax composite with similar thickness.