The effects of weave construction and fiber type on mechanical properties of hybrid natural composites
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Natural fiber composites have gained increasing attention lately due to being biodegradable and environmental friendly. The use of natural materials in composites would help to prevent global warming by reducing greenhouse gas production. In this study, the synergetic effects of fiber hybridization and weaving types in the mechanical properties of the composites were examined in detail by systematically presenting a comparative analysis of 27 different mono and hybrid fabric configurations of combined weaving structures (plain, twill, and basket) and fiber combinations (jute, hemp, and flax) in both warp and weft directions. Composite samples were manufactured via the vacuum infusion method and characterized using tensile and three-point bending tests. The results showed that weave architecture directly influences the crimp ratio of fibers, thereby affecting load transfer efficiency within the matrix. The results pointed out composites with flax fibers displayed the highest tensile (56.88 MPa) and flexural strength (60.48 MPa), while twill woven composites reached highest average tensile and flexural strength values. Basket weaves provided superior isotropic stability. These results suggest a practical database for engineers for design applications, enabling the selection of optimal architecture-hybrid pairings.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University , Istanbul , Türkiye
References (21)
Show source-provided references
1. M. Rajesh and J. Pitchaimani, “Mechanical properties of natural fiber braided yarn woven composite: Comparison with conventional yarn woven composite,” J. Bionic Eng., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 141–150, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1672-6529(16)60385-2.10.1016/S1672-6529(16)60385-2 ↗
2. M. Shamsuyeva, J. Winkelmann, and H. J. Endres, “Manufacture of hybrid natural/synthetic fiber woven textiles for use in technical biocomposites with maximum biobased content,” J. Compos. Sci., vol. 3, no. 2, p. 43, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs3020043.10.3390/jcs3020043 ↗
3. Y. Xie, C. A. S. Hill, Z. Xiao, H. Militz, and C. Mai, “Silane coupling agents used for natural fiber/polymer composites: A review,” Compos. Appl. Sci. Manuf., vol. 41, no. 7, pp. 806–189, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2010.03.005.10.1016/j.compositesa.2010.03.005 ↗
4. R. Vijay and D. L. Singaravelu, “Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of cyperus pangorei fibers and jute fiber-based natural fiber composites,” Int. J. Polym. Anal. Charact., vol. 21, no. 7, pp. 617–627, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1080/1023666x.2016.1192354.10.1080/1023666X.2016.1192354 ↗
5. R. Park and J. Jang, “Performance improvement of carbon fiber/polyethylene fiber hybrid composites,” J. Mater. Sci., vol. 34, no. 12, pp. 2903–2910, 1999, https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1004647721380.10.1023/A:1004647721380 ↗
6. M. R. Mansor, Z. Mustafa, and M. A. A. Hadi, “Effect of layering sequence on mechanical properties of hybrid oil palm empty fruit bunch/kenaf fibre reinforced epoxy composites,” J. Tribol., vol. 29, pp. 1–10, 2021.
7. T. H. Nam, S. Ogihara, N. H. Tung, and S. Kobayashi, “Effect of alkali treatment on interfacial and mechanical properties of coir fiber reinforced poly(butylene succinate) biodegradable composites,” Compos., Part B: Eng., vol. 42, no. 6, pp. 1648–1656, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.04.001.10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.04.001 ↗
8. A. Gholampour and T. Ozbakkaloglu, “A review of natural fiber composites: Properties, modification and processing techniques, characterization, applications,” J. Mater. Sci., vol. 55, pp. 829–892, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03990-y.10.1007/s10853-019-03990-y ↗
9. M. Y. Yuhazri, M. H. Amirhafizan, A. Abdullah, H. Sihombing, A. B. Saarah, and O. M. Fadzol, “The effect of various weave designs on mechanical behavior of lamina intraply composite made from kenaf fiber yarn,” IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng., vol. 160, p. 012021, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/160/1/012021.10.1088/1757-899X/160/1/012021 ↗
10. M. Jawaid, H. A. Khalil, and A. A. Bakar, “Woven hybrid composites tensile and flexural properties of oil palm-woven jute fibres based epoxy composites,” Mater. Sci. Eng.: A, vol. 528, no. 15, pp. 5190–5195, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2011.03.047.10.1016/j.msea.2011.03.047 ↗
11. G. Kretsis, “A review of the tensile, compressive, flexural and shear properties of hybrid fibre-reinforced plastics,” Composites, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 13–23, 1987, https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-4361(87)90003-6.10.1016/0010-4361(87)90003-6 ↗
12. S. K. Malhotra, K. Joseph, and S. Thomas, Polymer Composites, Volume 1: Macro- and Microcomposites, Weinheim, John Wiley & Sons (City), 2012.
13. H. Awais, Y. Nawab, A. Anjang, H. Md Akil, and M. S. Zainol Abidin, “Effect of fabric architecture on the shear and impact properties of natural fibre reinforced composites,” Compos., Part B: Eng., vol. 195, p. 108069, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.108069.10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.108069 ↗
14. B. Baghaei, M. Skrifvars, and L. Berglin, “Characterization of thermoplastic natural fibre composites made from woven hybrid yarn prepregs with different weave pattern,” Compos. Appl. Sci. Manuf., vol. 76, pp. 154–161, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.05.029.10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.05.029 ↗
15. S. N. Monteiro et al.., “Novel ballistic ramie fabric composite competing with kevlar fabric in multilayered armor,” Mater. Des., vol. 96, pp. 263–269, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.02.024.10.1016/j.matdes.2016.02.024 ↗
16. M. P. Ribeiro et al.., “Mechanical, thermal and ballistic performance of epoxy composites reinforced with cannabis sativa hemp fabric,” J. Mater. Res. Technol., vol. 12, pp. 221–233, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.02.064.10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.02.064 ↗
17. M. Rajesh and J. Pitchaimani, “Experimental investigation on buckling and free vibration behavior of woven natural fiber fabric composite under axial compression,” Compos. Struct., vol. 163, pp. 302–311, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.12.046.10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.12.046 ↗
18. T. S. Lemmi, M. Barburski, and B. T. Samuel, “Analysis of mechanical properties of unidirectional flax roving and sateen weave woven fabric-reinforced composites,” Autex Res. J., vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 218–223, 2021, https://doi.org/10.2478/aut-2020-0001.10.2478/aut-2020-0001 ↗
19. P. Rakesh, K. Komal, and N. Muthu, “From static properties to fatigue life: Comprehensive evaluation of unidirectional and woven flax fiber composites for structural applications,” Compos. Struct., vol. 383, p. 120121, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120121.10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120121 ↗
20. M. K. Singh and S. Zafar, “Effect of layering sequence on mechanical properties of woven kenaf/jute fabric hybrid laminated micro wave processed composites,” J. Ind. Textil., vol. 51, no. 2S, pp. 2731–2752, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083720911219.10.1177/1528083720911219 ↗
21. C. Klippathum et al.., “Tensile performance and carbon intensity of natural fiber–reinforced polymer composites using bio-based epoxy resins,” J. Mater. Res. Technol., vol. 42, pp. 6722–6741, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2026.04.242.10.1016/j.jmrt.2026.04.242 ↗