Effect of temperature on impact energy and failure behavior of hybrid jute-carbon/epoxy composites

Charpy impact tests were conducted on hybrid jute-carbon/ epoxy composites fabricated by hand lay-up method using 0.47, 0.58 and 0.68 fiber volume fractions. Tests were conducted at temperatures between -60oC to 60oC. Effects of fiber volume fraction and temperature on impact strength of the composites have been investigated along with the modes of failure of the fractured specimens. The impact strength was found to have a slight increase to the increase of test temperatures from -60oC to 0oC but it was significant when tested between 0oC to 60oC. The composite containing 47 vol. % fiber produced the highest impact strength of 200 KJm-2 at 600C. The 47 vol. % composite also produced lowest strength of 97 KJm-2 at -600C. Failure occurred mostly by fiber delamination and matrix debondingdelamination was more in specimens tested at -60 oC. The delamination occurred mainly at the middle zone of the specimens while fiber splitting and matrix cracking dominated the v-notch and pendulum striking areas