The lay-up configuration toughening of carbon fiber/silk/poly-butylene-succinate (PBS) hybrid composites with high mechanical resistance

The application of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP) is limited due to their poor impact resistance. This study aims to improve the toughness of CFRP by integrating high-toughness natural fiber, silk, in order to achieve a balanced combination of strength, stiffness, and toughness in the hybrid composite material. Specifically, carbon fiber/silk fiber reinforced PBS hybrid composites were fabricated using a film stacking method and hot-pressing technique. The mechanical properties of the composites were characterized through tensile testing, flexural testing, low-velocity impact testing, C-scan, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The influence of lay-up configuration on the mechanical properties of the composite materials was compared and analyzed. The results show that the asymmetric structure of ccss (c) exhibited the best impact resistance, effectively utilizing the strength and stiffness of carbon fibers, as well as the flexibility and toughness of silk and PBS. The hybrid composites in present research exhibit a comprehensive mechanical property, thereby expanding the potential applications of carbon fiber reinforced composites.