Mechanical performance of henequen fiber hybrid composites for structural energy absorption applications

The push towards sustainable materials has increased interest in natural fiber composites, however, their mechanical limitations often restrict their use in structural applications. This study investigates hybridization as a strategy to overcome these limitations by analyzing the mechanical and thermomechanical behavior of composite laminates made from henequen fibers combined with glass and carbon fibers. The primary focus is on evaluating the energy absorption capacity of these hybrid configurations. The laminates were subjected to quasi-static flexural loading, Charpy impact tests, and low-velocity drop-weight impact tests. Furthermore, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) was used to characterize the viscoelastic properties. The results demonstrate a significant synergistic effect of hybridization. Under quasi-static bending, hybrid composites with a single glass fiber layer exhibited superior strain energy storage compared to composites made of only henequen or glass fibers. Under low-velocity impact, the hybrids surpassed the all-glass-fiber laminates in both load-bearing capacity and absorbed energy. DMA revealed that hybridization substantially increases stiffness (storage modulus) but concurrently reduces damping capacity. Finally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed excellent compatibility and adhesion between the natural and synthetic layers, with no significant interfacial delamination. These findings indicate that hybrid henequen-glass fiber composites are a promising, sustainable alternative for lightweight, structural energy-absorbing applications.