The Interfacial Effect of Structural Optimization of Sugar Palm and Woven Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites on Mechanical, Thermal, Fire Resistance, and Morphological Performance
Abstract
The pursuit of sustainable, lightweight, and high-performance materials for structural and fire-critical applications has intensified interest in hybridizing natural and synthetic fibers. However, the mechanistic influence of stacking sequence design in sugar palm fiber (SPF)/woven carbon fiber (WCF) hybrid composites remains insufficiently understood. This study systematically examines nine epoxy-based laminate configurations, including five SPF/WCF hybrids (D1–D5) and four reference systems (D6–D9), to elucidate the role of fiber architecture on multifunctional performance. Mechanical testing revealed that the WCF-only laminate (D6) achieved the highest tensile strength (167.5 MPa) and flexural strength (268 MPa), while hybrid designs D1 (WCF/SPF/WCF) and D4 (WCF/SPF/WCF/SPF/WCF) demonstrated superior toughness and impact resistance (61.11 kJ/m2), confirming the ductility contribution of SPF. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that D1 retained 90.7% of D6’s storage modulus (17.5 GPa), evidencing efficient energy dissipation. Fire performance under UL-94 standards showed all composites achieved V1 classification, with D1 exhibiting a controlled vertical burning rate (8.12 mm/min), outperforming untreated SPF and neat epoxy. These findings establish stacking sequence as a decisive design parameter governing mechanical integrity, thermal stability, and flame retardancy, positioning SPF/WCF hybrids as viable candidates for sustainable, high-performance applications in structural and fire-sensitive environments.
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BibTeX
@article{mulla2026interfacial,
title = {{The Interfacial Effect of Structural Optimization of Sugar Palm and Woven Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites on Mechanical, Thermal, Fire Resistance, and Morphological Performance}},
author = {Mohammed Huzaifa Mulla and Mohd Nurazzi Norizan and Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim and Che Ku Abdullah and Norli Abdullah and Mohd Nor Faiz Norrrahim and Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal and Emin Bayraktar},
journal = {Journal of Natural Fibers},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1080/15440478.2026.2681896},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05704209v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Interfacial Effect of Structural Optimization of Sugar Palm and Woven Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites on Mechanical, Thermal, Fire Resistance, and Morphological Performance
AU - Mohammed Huzaifa Mulla
AU - Mohd Nurazzi Norizan
AU - Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim
AU - Che Ku Abdullah
AU - Norli Abdullah
AU - Mohd Nor Faiz Norrrahim
AU - Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal
AU - Emin Bayraktar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/25
JO - Journal of Natural Fibers
DO - 10.1080/15440478.2026.2681896
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05704209v1
AB - The pursuit of sustainable, lightweight, and high-performance materials for structural and fire-critical applications has intensified interest in hybridizing natural and synthetic fibers. However, the mechanistic influence of stacking sequence design in sugar palm fiber (SPF)/woven carbon fiber (WCF) hybrid composites remains insufficiently understood. This study systematically examines nine epoxy-based laminate configurations, including five SPF/WCF hybrids (D1–D5) and four reference systems (D6–D9), to elucidate the role of fiber architecture on multifunctional performance. Mechanical testing revealed that the WCF-only laminate (D6) achieved the highest tensile strength (167.5 MPa) and flexural strength (268 MPa), while hybrid designs D1 (WCF/SPF/WCF) and D4 (WCF/SPF/WCF/SPF/WCF) demonstrated superior toughness and impact resistance (61.11 kJ/m2), confirming the ductility contribution of SPF. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that D1 retained 90.7% of D6’s storage modulus (17.5 GPa), evidencing efficient energy dissipation. Fire performance under UL-94 standards showed all composites achieved V1 classification, with D1 exhibiting a controlled vertical burning rate (8.12 mm/min), outperforming untreated SPF and neat epoxy. These findings establish stacking sequence as a decisive design parameter governing mechanical integrity, thermal stability, and flame retardancy, positioning SPF/WCF hybrids as viable candidates for sustainable, high-performance applications in structural and fire-sensitive environments.
SN - 1544-0478
SN - 1544-046X
ER -