Carbon-fiber reinforced polymeric composites and methods related thereto

A composite material comprising:

• a polymer and a hybrid layer substantially encapsulated by the polymer,
• wherein the polymer comprises an epoxy resin,
• wherein the hybrid layer comprises:
• a plurality of intermediate-modulus (IM) carbon fibers;
• a plurality of high-modulus (HM) carbon fibers;
• and
• a toughening agent comprising a plurality of particles;
• wherein the plurality of IM carbon fibers and the plurality of HM carbon fibers are entangled on a fiber level within the hybrid layer;
• and
• wherein the toughening agent is dispersed throughout the hybrid layer;
• and
• wherein the composite material has a higher axial modulus than the corresponding material in the absence of the plurality of HM carbon fibers;
• wherein the composite material has a higher fiber-direction compressive strength than the corresponding material in the absence of the plurality of IM carbon fibers;
• and
• wherein the composite material has a higher fiber-direction compressive strength than the corresponding material in the absence of the toughening agent.