LAUSR

Abstract Natural fibers are inexpensive, biodegradable, and have similar specific properties to some synthetic fibers. Hardly any previous investigations exist of a composite made of multiple layers of pure Kevlar fiber fabric and pure Flax fiber fabric in a “sandwich structure”, but it only measured impact properties. The composite was made of 12 Flax/epoxy layers at the core in 3 possible configurations (i.e. [0]12F, [0/90]6F, or [±45]6F) that were sandwiched by 2 Kevlar/epoxy layers (i.e. plain weave) on each side. This study showed maximum change in the mechanical properties with respect to Flax/Epoxy for tension (+137.85% in ET, and +171.22% in σUT), compression (+171.22% in Ec, and −10.6% in σUC), 3-point bending (−11.54% in EB, and +2.19 in σUB), torsion (−5.31% in G, and 395.82% in τ), and water absorption (60.04%). This novel hybrid composite may be useful for research and industry applications.