CARBON GLASS HYBRIDIZATION - ANOTHER DEGREE OF DESIGN FREEDOM FOR COMPOSITE STRUCTURES/

Combining carbon fiber with glass fiber in hybrid construction provide s an additional degree of design freedom to meet the ever more demandi ng requirements of a competitive marketplace. Hybrid construction may allow a designer to increase laminate stiffness without sacrificing mu ch strength. Analysis shows that hybridizing glass with small amounts of carbon initially results in reduced laminate strength. But at aroun d 30% carbon concentration, analysis shows that the hybrid strength re covers 70% of the pure glass strength while stiffness exceeds that of pure glass by a 100% for low modulus carbon. In addition, hybrids exhi bit a response called the ''hybrid effect.'' When viewed as energy abs orbed to failure, this effect appears to result in energy absorption t hat exceeds that of pure carbon and pure glass laminates.