Abstract:

This paper reports an investigation on the preparation and mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with a plain glass fiber fabric and metal mesh， using an epoxy resin matrix （mixed at a mass ratio of 100∶30 with its curing agent）. Samples were fabricated using vacuum⁃assisted resin transfer molding. The effects of metal mesh pore size and the number of metal mesh layers on the composite properties were evaluated through tensile and flexural testing. Experimental results demonstrated that the incorporation of a metal mesh significantly enhanced the mechanical properties. A pore size of 2 mm × 3 mm was found to yield the optimal improvement in both tensile and flexural performance. Consequently， composites with this specific mesh size were selected for further study on the effect of layer count. Data analysis revealed a distinct trend： while the tensile properties gradually decreased with an increasing number of metal mesh layers， the flexural properties were progressively enhanced.

Key words: glass fiber, epoxy resin, metal mesh, composite material, mechanical property