Yasin Akgul - Iron and Steel institute, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey
Yousef Alyaas Younes Alsbaale - Mechanical Engineering, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey
Andinet Kumella Eticha - School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Harun Cug - Mechanical Engineering, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey

This study aims to examine the mechanical and tribological behaviors of short glass fibers (SGFs) and short carbon fibers (SCFs) reinforced single-layer hybrid epoxy composites. Here, the hybrid composites reinforced SGFs and SCFs in two different ratios (۵ wt.% and ۱۰ wt.%) were produced by the hand layup method. In addition, only glass or carbon fiber reinforced composites were produced in the same proportions to compare with hybrid composites. To investigate the flexural bending strength of composites (E۵GF, E۱۰GF, E۵CF, and E۱۰CF) and hybrid composites (E۵GCF and E۱۰GCF), ۳-point bending tests were conducted. Izod impact tests were performed to analyze the impact energy absorbing behaviors of specimens. The wear performance of samples was assessed by using ۱۰ and ۲۰N loads. Moreover, the morphology of broken and worn surfaces of samples was analyzed by a scanning electron microscope. According to test results, E۱۰GCF hybrid composites had nearly ۲۷.۳۶% and ۲۹.۶۷% better flexural strength and impact energy-absorbing compared to (E۱۰GF) glass fiber reinforced composites, respectively. However, only ۱۰ wt.% carbon-reinforced composites showed the highest wear resistance and smooth worn surface among all the samples. Therefore, for structural applications, hybrid epoxy composites can be the favorite but for tribological purposes reinforcing epoxy with only carbon fiber should be advantageous.

Short carbon fibers, Short glass fibers, Flexural strength, Impact Strength, Wear