LAUSR

Abstract The aim of this research is to improve the impact strength of composites manufactured from discontinuous waste carbon fibre (CF). For this purpose, novel multi-material hybrid yarns with a core-sheath structure are developed from a mix of waste CF and polyamide 6 (PA 6) fibre (60 mm) that is combined with continuous glass filaments in the core and PA 6 fibre in the sheath. The tensile and Charpy impact properties of the unidirectional hybrid composites produced from the developed multi-material hybrid yarns are compared with those of a non-hybrid composite reinforced exclusively with waste CF. Results revealed that the impact strength of hybrid composites can be augmented by 50.5% by adding only 6 vol% of glass filaments to waste CF. An increase of 18.4% in impact strength can be achieved in hybrid composites if the total fibre volume content is identical with that of non-hybrid composites.