Evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of epoxy resin hybrid composites reinforced with date palm stem fibre and glass fibre

This study investigates the mechanical properties of epoxy resin hybrid composites reinforced with date palm stem fibres (DPSF) and glass fibres (GF). Natural fibres like DPSF offer numerous advantages, including low cost, renewability and biodegradability, making them environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic fibres. GF, on the other hand, is well-known for its high strength and lightweight properties, making it ideal for various industrial applications. In this research, DPSF and GF were combined to create hybrid composites, aiming to enhance mechanical properties and reduce production costs compared to pure GF composites. The study involved the preparation of DPSF and the fabrication of composites using a hand lay-up approach with varying fibre proportions, followed by mechanical testing that included impact, flexural, tensile test and as well as a water absorption test. The results show that both the flexural and tensile strengths of a composite with epoxy resin containing 10 wt%DPSF and 10 wt%GF improved significantly, resulting in a tensile strength of 17.75 MPa and a flexural strength of 48.13 MPa, along with a favourable reduction in water absorption. The impact strength was significantly increased by the optimal integration of a composite with epoxy resin containing 20 wt% DPSF and 10 wt% GF. These findings suggest that the hybrid composites demonstrate enhanced mechanical properties, revealing the combined benefits of DPSF and GF. This study underscores the potential of DPSF-GF reinforced composites as a cost-effective and mechanically strong alternative to conventional GF composites.