Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength

Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros; José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida

doi:doi:10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength

Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros

, José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida^*

Published in Advances in Materials (Volume 15, Issue 4)

Received: 8 September 2026 Accepted: 23 September 2026 Published: 23 October 2026

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Abstract

Polymer matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining importance in various applications. However, the environment to which the composite will be exposed can significantly influence its behavior, and humid environments can be potentially aggressive. There are few studies on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with sponge gourd and glass fibers, and the effect of moisture absorption and temperature on their behavior is still little explored. Therefore, in this work, aging tests were performed on glass fiber and sponge gourd fiber composites, as well as on their hybrid composite, by immersion in distilled water at two aging temperatures (25°C and 60°C). The mechanical behavior of aged and unaged samples was evaluated through destructive impact test and non-destructive impulse excitation test. The water absorption process was also evaluated and characterized by determining the diffusion coefficients and moisture saturation values. The impact test results allowed for the identification of failure modes and the evaluation of the effect of water absorption between the two different aging temperatures. The glass fiber composites showed little variation in impact strength before and after aging. However, the sponge gourd and hybrid composites showed considerable variation in impact strength after aging. Hybridization, however, proved efficient, and the hybrid composites exhibited impact resistance superior to that of the sponge gourd composites, even after aging. Non-destructive testing allowed for the evaluation of the aging effect on Young's modulus and loss factor. Results for the hybrid composites showed that hybridization efficiently protected the sponge gourd fibers and significantly reduced the degradation of the sponge gourd composite, in addition to providing a more environmentally friendly design alternative.

Published in	Advances in Materials (Volume 15, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
Page(s)	132-147
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Lignocellulosic Fibers, Aging, Hybrid Composites, Impact Strength, Water Absorption

References

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Medeiros, R. G. D. C., d’Almeida, J. R. M. (2026). Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Advances in Materials, 15(4), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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Medeiros, R. G. D. C.; d’Almeida, J. R. M. Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Adv. Mater. 2026, 15(4), 132-147. doi: 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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Medeiros RGDC, d’Almeida JRM. Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Adv Mater. 2026;15(4):132-147. doi: 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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@article{10.11648/j.am.20261504.11,
  author = {Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros and José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida},
  title = {Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength},
  journal = {Advances in Materials},
  volume = {15},
  number = {4},
  pages = {132-147},
  doi = {10.11648/j.am.20261504.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.am.20261504.11},
  abstract = {Polymer matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining importance in various applications. However, the environment to which the composite will be exposed can significantly influence its behavior, and humid environments can be potentially aggressive. There are few studies on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with sponge gourd and glass fibers, and the effect of moisture absorption and temperature on their behavior is still little explored. Therefore, in this work, aging tests were performed on glass fiber and sponge gourd fiber composites, as well as on their hybrid composite, by immersion in distilled water at two aging temperatures (25°C and 60°C). The mechanical behavior of aged and unaged samples was evaluated through destructive impact test and non-destructive impulse excitation test. The water absorption process was also evaluated and characterized by determining the diffusion coefficients and moisture saturation values. The impact test results allowed for the identification of failure modes and the evaluation of the effect of water absorption between the two different aging temperatures. The glass fiber composites showed little variation in impact strength before and after aging. However, the sponge gourd and hybrid composites showed considerable variation in impact strength after aging. Hybridization, however, proved efficient, and the hybrid composites exhibited impact resistance superior to that of the sponge gourd composites, even after aging. Non-destructive testing allowed for the evaluation of the aging effect on Young's modulus and loss factor. Results for the hybrid composites showed that hybridization efficiently protected the sponge gourd fibers and significantly reduced the degradation of the sponge gourd composite, in addition to providing a more environmentally friendly design alternative.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength
AU  - Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros
AU  - José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida
Y1  - 2026/10/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
T2  - Advances in Materials
JF  - Advances in Materials
JO  - Advances in Materials
SP  - 132
EP  - 147
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-252X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
AB  - Polymer matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining importance in various applications. However, the environment to which the composite will be exposed can significantly influence its behavior, and humid environments can be potentially aggressive. There are few studies on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with sponge gourd and glass fibers, and the effect of moisture absorption and temperature on their behavior is still little explored. Therefore, in this work, aging tests were performed on glass fiber and sponge gourd fiber composites, as well as on their hybrid composite, by immersion in distilled water at two aging temperatures (25°C and 60°C). The mechanical behavior of aged and unaged samples was evaluated through destructive impact test and non-destructive impulse excitation test. The water absorption process was also evaluated and characterized by determining the diffusion coefficients and moisture saturation values. The impact test results allowed for the identification of failure modes and the evaluation of the effect of water absorption between the two different aging temperatures. The glass fiber composites showed little variation in impact strength before and after aging. However, the sponge gourd and hybrid composites showed considerable variation in impact strength after aging. Hybridization, however, proved efficient, and the hybrid composites exhibited impact resistance superior to that of the sponge gourd composites, even after aging. Non-destructive testing allowed for the evaluation of the aging effect on Young's modulus and loss factor. Results for the hybrid composites showed that hybridization efficiently protected the sponge gourd fibers and significantly reduced the degradation of the sponge gourd composite, in addition to providing a more environmentally friendly design alternative.
VL  - 15
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Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros

Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7988-8289
José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida

Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0026-1863

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Medeiros, R. G. D. C., d’Almeida, J. R. M. (2026). Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Advances in Materials, 15(4), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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Medeiros, R. G. D. C.; d’Almeida, J. R. M. Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Adv. Mater. 2026, 15(4), 132-147. doi: 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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Medeiros RGDC, d’Almeida JRM. Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength. Adv Mater. 2026;15(4):132-147. doi: 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11

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@article{10.11648/j.am.20261504.11,
  author = {Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros and José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida},
  title = {Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength},
  journal = {Advances in Materials},
  volume = {15},
  number = {4},
  pages = {132-147},
  doi = {10.11648/j.am.20261504.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.am.20261504.11},
  abstract = {Polymer matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining importance in various applications. However, the environment to which the composite will be exposed can significantly influence its behavior, and humid environments can be potentially aggressive. There are few studies on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with sponge gourd and glass fibers, and the effect of moisture absorption and temperature on their behavior is still little explored. Therefore, in this work, aging tests were performed on glass fiber and sponge gourd fiber composites, as well as on their hybrid composite, by immersion in distilled water at two aging temperatures (25°C and 60°C). The mechanical behavior of aged and unaged samples was evaluated through destructive impact test and non-destructive impulse excitation test. The water absorption process was also evaluated and characterized by determining the diffusion coefficients and moisture saturation values. The impact test results allowed for the identification of failure modes and the evaluation of the effect of water absorption between the two different aging temperatures. The glass fiber composites showed little variation in impact strength before and after aging. However, the sponge gourd and hybrid composites showed considerable variation in impact strength after aging. Hybridization, however, proved efficient, and the hybrid composites exhibited impact resistance superior to that of the sponge gourd composites, even after aging. Non-destructive testing allowed for the evaluation of the aging effect on Young's modulus and loss factor. Results for the hybrid composites showed that hybridization efficiently protected the sponge gourd fibers and significantly reduced the degradation of the sponge gourd composite, in addition to providing a more environmentally friendly design alternative.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Development and Characterization of Fiberglass/Sponge Gourd Hybrid Composites: Effect of Water Absorption on the Elastic Behavior and Impact Strength
AU  - Ronaldo Gomes de Castro Medeiros
AU  - José Roberto Moraes d’Almeida
Y1  - 2026/10/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
T2  - Advances in Materials
JF  - Advances in Materials
JO  - Advances in Materials
SP  - 132
EP  - 147
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-252X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.am.20261504.11
AB  - Polymer matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining importance in various applications. However, the environment to which the composite will be exposed can significantly influence its behavior, and humid environments can be potentially aggressive. There are few studies on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with sponge gourd and glass fibers, and the effect of moisture absorption and temperature on their behavior is still little explored. Therefore, in this work, aging tests were performed on glass fiber and sponge gourd fiber composites, as well as on their hybrid composite, by immersion in distilled water at two aging temperatures (25°C and 60°C). The mechanical behavior of aged and unaged samples was evaluated through destructive impact test and non-destructive impulse excitation test. The water absorption process was also evaluated and characterized by determining the diffusion coefficients and moisture saturation values. The impact test results allowed for the identification of failure modes and the evaluation of the effect of water absorption between the two different aging temperatures. The glass fiber composites showed little variation in impact strength before and after aging. However, the sponge gourd and hybrid composites showed considerable variation in impact strength after aging. Hybridization, however, proved efficient, and the hybrid composites exhibited impact resistance superior to that of the sponge gourd composites, even after aging. Non-destructive testing allowed for the evaluation of the aging effect on Young's modulus and loss factor. Results for the hybrid composites showed that hybridization efficiently protected the sponge gourd fibers and significantly reduced the degradation of the sponge gourd composite, in addition to providing a more environmentally friendly design alternative.
VL  - 15
IS  - 4
ER  -

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