Design carbon-aramid hybrid composites using graphene nanoplate enhanced matrix for high-performance protective applications

Abstract

Carbon fiber–reinforced plastics (CFRPs) offer high specific strength and stiffness but are limited by impact resistance and interfacial properties, whereas aramid fibers provide superior impact energy absorption but lower stiffness/strength. To integrate these advantages. It is designed carbon-aramid hybrid composites combining a graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-enhanced epoxy matrix. Processability and dispersion were optimized by assessing viscosity and agglomeration behavior versus GNP content and ≤0.6 wt% maintained infusion-ready viscosity. Mechanical optimization across tensile, flexural, and drop-weight impact tests identified a carbon–aramid–carbon (CAC) layup with 0.6 wt% GNPs (CAC 0.6) as optimal. In CAC 0.6, GNPs restored the lost tensile strength while concurrently maintaining the high impact resistance achieved through the incorporation of aramid by 36.69% over the pristine CFRP, and based on the ultrasonic C-scan confirmed localized, fiber-aligned delamination in CAC/CAC 0.6, in contrast to widespread, irregular damage in neat and cross-hybrid layups. These results demonstrate that the combined strategy of carbon outer plies, aramid inner plies, and 0.6 wt% GNP-modified epoxy achieves simultaneous improvements in impact resistance and structural performance, offering a practical pathway to high-performance protective composites.