Effect of the Hybridization of Carbon Fibers with Aramid and UHMWPE Fibers on the Impact Properties of Hybrid Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics

The properties and mechanisms of fracture of hybrid composite materials (HCMs) based on flexible and brittle matrices reinforced with hybrid fibers of carbon, aramid, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are studied by the method of impact break (IB) under low speed impact. The composition of the hybrid fiber and the plasticity of the matrix have an effect on the properties and fracture mode of the HCM. It is established that the combination of carbon and aramid fibers in a hybrid fiber for reinforcing a flexible matrix (FM) makes it possible to create a material with delayed failure. It is shown that the impact fracture of the HCM with a flexible matrix requires a load twice as large as the load required for specimens with a brittle matrix. Hybrid composite materials in which there is a joint deformation of the matrix and the reinforcing fiber at all stages of loading up to failure have the highest strength. The mechanism of deformation and destruction of anisotropic HCMs upon impact is associated with the stepwise behavior.