Enhancement of mechanical and electromagnetic absorbing properties of carbon/glass hybrid composites with a three-dimensional quasi-isotropic braided structure

Two carbon/glass hybrid composites with different reinforced structures were designed and their mechanical and electromagnetic absorbing properties (EMAPs) were investigated in this paper. It was found that the tensile, bending, and double-notch shear strength of the three-dimensional (3D) quasi-isotropic (QI)-braided composite were 4.50%, 9.64%, and 14.29% higher than those of the QI-laminated composite, respectively. This was because Z-binder yarns in the 3D QI-braided composite can lock all yarn sets together to bear external stress and inhibit crack propagation in interlamination. The EMAPs of the 3D QI-braided composites were larger than that of the QI-laminated composite in the entire Ku band. This was because the Z-directional glass fibers in the 3D QI-braided composite were beneficial for electromagnetic transmission. The uniform arrangement of five sets of yarns (+45 degrees, -45 degrees, 90 degrees, 0 degrees, and Z-yarns) resulted in the 3D QI-braided composites having better QI-EMAPs and QI mechanical properties in plane and outstanding interlayer performance than the traditional carbon fiber laminated composite.