Effect of Hydrothermal Aging on the Mechanical Properties of Jute/Carbon Hybrid Composites

ABSTRACT Conventional fiber‐reinforced composites, such as those based on carbon fibers, are extensively employed in high‐performance applications across the aerospace and automotive industries. However, their dependence on non‐renewable resources and energy‐intensive manufacturing processes raises substantial environmental concerns. Driven by increasingly stringent ecological regulations and global initiatives to reduce CO ₂ emissions, this research explores sustainable alternatives through hybrid composites combining natural jute fibers with synthetic carbon fibers. The study investigates explicitly how strategic hybridization enhances the mechanical properties and hydrothermal resistance of jute‐reinforced epoxy composites. Five distinct laminate configurations were fabricated using vacuum‐assisted resin infusion (VARI). Comprehensive evaluation included tensile and flexural testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and water absorption studies in seawater at 40°C and 60°C for 3 months. The research also examined flexural degradation post‐aging, changes in viscoelastic behavior, and failure mechanisms through scanning electron microscopy. Results demonstrate that hybridization significantly improves mechanical performance; the CCJCC and CJCJC configurations, where (C denotes a carbon fiber layer and J denotes a jute fiber layer), exhibited tensile strengths of 731.1 MPa and 474.8 MPa, and flexural strengths of 628.5 MPa and 460.4 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, carbon fiber integration substantially enhanced moisture resistance, with the JJJJJ laminate showing the highest equilibrium moisture content (7.67%), while the CCJCC and CJCJC hybrids displayed markedly reduced absorption (3.69% and 5.02%, respectively) when immersed in seawater at 40°C. Thermal analysis revealed that hybridization affects the viscoelastic response, with jute‐carbon hybrid composites demonstrating higher damping factors but greater susceptibility to property degradation under hydrothermal conditions at 60°C.