COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAGASSE-GLASS EPOXY HYBRID COMPOSITES

Abstract

This research presents a comparative study on the mechanical properties of bagasse fiber and glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites, with a focus on the effect of fiber orientation on material performance. Bagasse fiber, an agricultural waste from sugarcane, is used as a sustainable natural reinforcement in combination with glass fiber to improve mechanical strength. Hybrid composite laminates were fabricated using bagasse fibers oriented at 45°, 60°, and 90° within an epoxy resin matrix, along with glass fiber layers. Mechanical characterization was carried out through hardness and impact tests to evaluate the influence of fiber orientation on the composite behavior. The experimental results reveal a strong relationship between fiber orientation and mechanical performance. The highest average bending load is at 900, indicating the maximum bending strength occurs at this angle. The 45° bagasse fiber orientation demonstrated the highest impact strength due to improved energy absorption and load transfer capability under dynamic conditions. In contrast, the 45° orientation exhibited highest hardness, indicating superior resistance to surface indentation and localized deformation. The 45° orientation showed highest and balanced mechanical properties but did not outperform the other configurations. This study emphasizes that proper selection of fiber orientation plays a crucial role in optimizing the mechanical performance of bagasse–glass epoxy hybrid composites. The findings support the potential application of these eco-friendly composites in lightweight structural, automotive, and engineering components.