Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Carbon-Based Hybrid Composites as an Alternative for Amphibious Aircraft Float Material

The high specific stiffness and strength of composites make them widely used in defense, marine, and aerospace applications. Hybrid composites have increased use in high tech applications, one of them is as an amphibious aircraft float material. The glass/carbon and KC/carbon hybrid composites manufactured by VARI methods are used in this study. The fibers used are woven roving carbon fabric and woven cloth e-glass fabric for glass/carbon hybrid composites; and woven roving carbon fabric and hybrid woven roving kevlar-carbon fabric for kevlar-carbon/carbon hybrid composites. The matrix used for both composites is vinyl ester resin. The mechanical properties are evaluated according to ASTM standards. Fracture micrograph analyses are investigated using SEM. The comparison of mechanical properties and surface fracture of both hybrid composites have been investigated by the author. The tensile and compressive strength of KC/carbon is higher than glass/carbon hybrid composites up to 11% and 9%, respectively. SEM micrograph exhibits that the KC/carbon has a good fiber/matrix and interlayer bond better than glass/carbon hybrid composites. The study results exhibited that the hybrid composite with the most potential as an alternative to amphibious aircraft float material is the KC/carbon composite