Page 130 - Template Tesis UTM v2.0

4.6.1 The Effects of Stacking Sequence on Tensile Properties of E-glass/Basalt,

E-glass/Jute and E-glass/Flax

This section analyses the effect of stacking sequence between SL and IC

sequences of the hybrid composites. In this regard, the general amount of
reinforcement between E-glass and natural fibres (basalt, jute or flax) in all six hybrids

were kept constant, approximately about 45 to 55 wt. % of E-glass and 13 to 15 wt. %

of natural fibres, which contribute to the total of around 65 to 70 wt. % reinforcement.
As shown in Figure 4.1, the tensile strength and tensile modulus for the SL sequences

of G2/B3/G2, G2/J3/G2 and G2/F3/G2 are 252.64, 105.72, 155.87 MPa and 19.11, 11.21,
13.14 GPa, respectively. On the other hand, the IC sequences of [G/B]3G, [G/J]3G and

[G/F]3G exhibit the tensile strength and modulus with the value of 221.63, 97.94,
147.57 MPa and 18.52, 11.00, 12.32 GPa, respectively. In this light, the tensile strength

for the G2/B3/G2 is 12.3 % higher than [G/B]3G, G2/J3/G2 is 7.4 % higher than [G/J]3G

and G2/F3/G2 is 5.3 % higher than [G/F]3G. For the tensile modulus, G2/B3/G2 is 3.1 %
higher than [G/B]3/G, G2/J3/G2 is 1.9 % higher than [G/J]3/G and G2/F3/G2 is 6.3 %

higher than [G/F]3/G.

In general, the results show that the tensile properties had slightly decreased

throughout the transition from the SL to IC sequence, except in the case of E-

glass/basalt hybrid laminates where the decrease is more significant on the tensile
strength, amounting to almost 12.3 %. Consequently, it is noticeable that the difference

arrangement of the fibres is not highly significant in affecting the tensile properties of
E-glass/basalt, E-glass/jute and E-glass/flax, based on the small differences in the

percentage of the tensile properties. Meanwhile, under the tension mode, the applied
load was uniformly distributed on the cross-sectional area of the hybrid laminates.

Even though the stacking sequences are different, the hybrid laminates were

constructed to maintain an equal percentage of fibre loading between synthetic and
natural fibres. Nevertheless, due to a higher number of interfaces in the IC sequence,

may be caused a detrimental on the final properties of the laminates, especially on their
stiffness. This finding partially agrees with previous studies on the effect of lay-up

architecture on the plain-weave flax laminates which suggested that the effect of the
amount of fibres oriented in the load direction is absolutely predominant and exclusive

100