Development and Mechanical Characterization of Hybrid FRP Composites Reinforced With Coconut Fiber and Carbon Fiber

The growing demand for lightweight, high-strength, and environmentally sustainable materials has led to increased interest in hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. This project focuses on the development and mechanical characterization of hybrid FRP composites reinforced with coconut fiber and carbon fiber. Coconut fiber, a natural and biodegradable material, offers advantages such as low cost, availability, and good energy absorption, while carbon fiber provides high strength, stiffness, and excellent fatigue resistance. By combining these two fibers, a hybrid composite material is developed to achieve a balance between mechanical performance and sustainability. In this study, composite laminates are fabricated using Epoxy Resin LY556 with Hardener HY951 as the polymer matrix through a controlled hand layup manufacturing process. Different fiber stacking sequences and weight fractions are considered to evaluate their influence on the overall performance of the hybrid composite. Mechanical characterization is carried out using standard ASTM testing methods to determine properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, and hardness. The experimental results are analyzed to understand the interaction between natural and synthetic fibers and their contribution to load-bearing capability and durability. The results demonstrate that hybridization of coconut fiber with carbon fiber significantly improves the mechanical properties compared to composites reinforced with natural fibers alone, while also reducing the overall cost and environmental impact compared to purely synthetic composites. These hybrid FRP composites have potential applications in automotive components, lightweight structural parts, marine structures, and other engineering fields where a combination of strength, weight reduction, and sustainability is required.