Damage Characterization of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/ Flax/Jute Fiber Reinforced Melamine Formaldehyde Hybrid Composites using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Hybridisation is the process of reinforcing multiple fibres in a single matrix. Hybridisation has proved to enhance the mechanical strength of composites based on natural fibres and has opened avenues for using these composites in applications such as structural members for office partitions, automotive interior panels and sound proof panels. Present study deals with the hybridisation of natural fibres such as flax and jute with a synthetic fibre ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), using melamine formaldehyde resin. Hand lay-up and compression moulding process was used to fabricate eight layered composite panels with six different fibre orientation. In this study, the effect of stack sequence on flexural, impact and inter laminar shear strength was investigated. Maximum flexural strength of (36.07 MPa), inter laminar shear strength of (3.81 MPa) and impact strength of (63.83 kJ/m²) was noted for Stack-2 hybrid composites. Stack-4 composites with flexural strength of (18.96 MPa), inter laminar shear strength of (2.19 MPa) and impact strength of (24.61 kJ/m²) was the lowest. Analysis of the composite failure mechanisms was carried out using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Failure mechanisms such as angular bending, deformation, peripheral shearing, debonding and delamination were prominent.