Effect of Stacking Sequence on Mechanical and Thermal Behaviors of Hybrid Kevlar-Semicarbon Fiber/Epoxy Laminated Composites

This work aimed at studying the effect of stacking sequence on tensile, flexural, and thermal behaviors of Kevlar-semicarbon/epoxy hybrid composites. Hybrid laminated composites were fabricated through hand lay-up method by arranging the fabrics in two different layering sequences. From the mechanical characteristics viewpoint, it was found out that the hybrid composite with the pattern of semicarbon fibers between Kevlar layers demonstrated a better tensile strength, failure strain and flexural modulus with a slightly decrease in elastic modulus as compared to the hybrid composite with the arrange of semicarbon fibers on Kevlar layers. On the other hand, the flexural strength of two composites was approximately the same. A comparison between the obtained results for two hybrid composites under the horizontal burning test showed that when the semicarbon fibers were placed on Kevlar layers, the burning rate and flame retardancy of the hybrid composite is higher. Also, the thermal analysis results showed that the mass loss occurred in higher temperature range when the semicarbon fibers were placed on Kevlar layers.