MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL FIBERREINFORCED HYBRID COMPOSITES FOR LIGHTWEIGHT ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The increasing demand for lightweight, high-strength, and environmentally sustainable materials has encouraged the development of natural fiber-reinforced composite materials for engineering applications. Natural fibers such as jute and sisal offer advantages including low density, biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, and renewable availability, making them suitable alternatives to conventional synthetic reinforcements. Hybridization of different natural fibers can further enhance the mechanical properties of composite materials by combining the beneficial characteristics of individual fibers. This study investigates the mechanical characterization of jute-sisal hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites for lightweight engineering applications. Composite specimens were fabricated using varying fiber configurations and tested for tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, and hardness according to standard testing procedures. The mechanical performance of hybrid composites was compared with single-fiber reinforced composites and pure epoxy specimens. The experimental results indicate that the hybrid jute-sisal composite exhibits superior mechanical properties compared to individual fiber composites. Significant improvements in tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, and hardness were observed due to the synergistic effect of fiber hybridization. The enhanced mechanical performance and reduced weight demonstrate the suitability of natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites for automotive, aerospace, construction, and other lightweight structural applications.