Assessing the tensile properties of interlayer hybrid thermoset-thermoplastic composites

Though fiber reinforced thermoset composites exhibit excellent rigidity and strength while being lightweight, they suffer from low toughness and brittle failure, which is unfavorable. On the other hand, fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites are good energy absorbers, damage resistant and recyclable; however, these materials exhibits insufficient rigidity. As a solution, the interlayer hybridization of glass fiber reinforced thermoset (GTS) and glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (GTP) composites is proposed. This study aims at investigating the tensile properties of interlayer hybrid thermoset-thermoplastic composites. In this regard, two non-hybrid and two hybrid composite samples (GTS2-GTP and GTS4-GTP) were fabricated using common fabrication techniques: hand lay-up and hot compression molding. Both hybrid composite samples were fabricated in such a manner that GTP was sandwiched between two GTS plates. Based on the tensile test results, the failure strain of GTS sample was improved due to the interlayer hybridization with GTP. Non-hybrid composite samples exhibited one load drop in their tensile stress-strain behavior, while interlayer hybrid composites showed two load drops, which resulted in toughness increment. Moreover, hybrid thermoset-thermoplastic composites outperformed non-hybrid composites in terms of post-impact tensile properties.