Mechanical Performance/Cost Ratio Analysis of Carbon/Glass Interlayer and Intralayer Hybrid Composites

Hybrid composites combining carbon and glass fibers are increasingly studied for their potential to enhance mechanical properties and cost efficiency. Understanding how different hybrid structures influence these properties is critical for optimizing material design and application. In this paper, the mechanical properties of carbon/glass (C/G) interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites, including tensile, compressive, and flexural properties, were tested, and the cost performances of hybrid composites were analyzed to assess the economic feasibility of different stacking configurations. It was revealed that the specific tensile, compressive, and flexural modulus/cost and strength/cost ratios of interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites decreased with increasing carbon fiber content, indicating that adding carbon fiber reduced cost performance. With the combined hybrid ratio and the interlayer structure with glass fiber sandwiching carbon fiber, the tensile and compressive properties were the most cost-effective. When the dispersion degree of the intralayer hybrid structure was 0, the tensile and compressive properties were the most cost-effective. Specifically, for intralayer hybrid composites with a dispersion degree of 0 and C:G = 1:4, the specific tensile strength/cost ratio was 6.7 × 104 N·m/USD, and the specific compressive modulus and strength/cost ratio was 3.8 × 106 N·m/USD and 4.7 × 103 N·m/USD, respectively. However, the flexural performance/cost ratio was found to be opposite to the tensile and compressive results. When carbon fiber was distributed in the bottom layer or used to sandwich the glass fiber, the flexural performance/cost ratio of interlayer hybrid composites was nearly as good as that of glass fiber. Moreover, by considering the working condition of composites, the cost performance of mechanical properties can be optimized and improved through careful design of hybrid ratios and stacking structures.