Development and Characterization of Biodegradable Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Sandwich Composites Using Hand Lay-up and Compression Molding Technique

The research aims to fabricate and investigate the physical and mechanical properties of hybrid polymer nanocomposites (HPNCs) for potential applications in various industries such as electronics, railways, and aviation. The HPNCs were developed by embedding bi-directional banana and kevlar fibers, along with nanographene oxide (GO) and epoxy as the matrix material. Ultrasonication was employed to achieve uniform dispersion of nano-sized GO particles, and the stacking sequence of fibers and GO content (ranging from 0 to 1 wt.%) were varied. Mechanical testing revealed that the optimum properties, including flexural strength (525.56 MPa), tensile strength (545.18 MPa), hardness (87.68), and interlaminar shear strength (52.23 MPa), were achieved at 0.50 wt.% GO. The highest impact strength (871.6 J/m) was found at 0.25 wt.% of GO. Additionally, physical characterization through density, void content, and water absorption tests, along with FESEM analysis, confirmed the homogeneity and surface morphology of the composites. These results highlight the potential of HPNCs for use in high performance, lightweight applications, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional composites in industries requiring enhanced material properties.