Development of Hierarchical FRP Composites Through Inter‐Ply Hybridization and CNT Incorporation Approaches: An Emphasis on the Effects of In Situ Testing Temperature

ABSTRACT The push for development of economic materials for cross‐dimensional applications has led to the introduction of hybridized FRP composites specially with inter‐ply configuration. The present investigation focuses on the development of an industry oriented hybrid composite whose flexural properties are similar to those of a neat CFRP composite with a substantially reduced cost. The current research study starts with a neat CFRP composite and further is modified sequentially by replacing carbon fiber plies by equal number of glass fiber plies while keeping the stacking sequence symmetric in a 12‐layered laminated composite. By replacing six carbon fiber plies at the center, the hybrid composite exhibited ~96% flexural strength as that of the neat CFRP composite. The glass fiber composite reservoir core acts as a toughness reservoir which is reflected in the post peak stress gradual failure behavior of the composite. For further enhancement in flexural performance, fiber modification and matrix modification were carried out by electrophoretic deposition and mechanical shear mixing methods, respectively. Employing these modification strategies resulted in enhancing the flexural properties of hybrid composites to a bit higher values as compared to that of the neat CFRP laminate. The flexural modulus was enhanced by 18% in the case of matrix modification and by ~17% using fiber modification techniques. The matrix modified C 3 G 6 C 3 MM composite exhibited ~6% higher flexural strength at 60°C and retained ~90% of strength at 85°C as compared to the unmodified C 3 G 6 C 3 MM. The features of fractured surfaces were studied using SEM.