Improvement of Low-Velocity Impact and Abrasive Wear Resistance of Carbon/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composites

The present investigation focuses on the design and development of low-cost carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymer hybrid composite with optimum flexural strength and modulus, Charpy impact strength, resistance to low-velocity impact, and abrasive wear. There are three hybrid composites ([C 2 G 8 ], [C 3 G 7 ], and [C 4 G 6 ]) along with a plain glass ([G 10 ]) and carbon ([C 10 ]) fiber-reinforced polymer composites are fabricated using hand lay-up method. The results revealed that [C 2 G 8 ] type hybrid composite possessed optimum flexural strength (394.35 MPa), resistance to low-velocity impact (92.42 J), Charpy impact strength (160 kJ/m 2 ), and minimum specific wear rate (22.87 × 10 –3 mm 3 /Nm) in comparison to other hybrid composites. The damaged area due to low- velocity impact was found to be least for [C 2 G 8 ] type hybrid composite compared to other hybrid composites. Furthermore, fractography analysis was carried out by visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy to make possible structure–property co-relationship.