The aim of the research article is to study the mechanical and two-body abrasive wear behaviour of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) filled glass fabric reinforced epoxy (G-E) composites. Alumina filled G-E composites containing 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 wt% were prepared using the hand lay-up technique followed by compression molding. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and tensile modulus were investigated in accordance with ASTM standards. Two-body abrasive wear studies were carried out using a pin-on-disc wear tester under multi-pass condition against the water proof silicon carbide abrasive paper. From the experimental investigation, it was found that the presence of Al 2 O 3 filler improved the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the G-E composite. Inclusion of Al 2 O 3 filler reduced the specific wear rate of G-E composite. The results show that in abrasion mode, as the filler loading increases the wear volume decreases and increased with increasing abrading distance. The excellent wear resistance was obtained for Al 2 O 3 filled G-E composites. Furthermore, 10 wt% filler loading gave a very less wear loss. Finally, the scanning electron microscopic observations on the wear mechanisms Al 2 O 3 filled G-E composites was discussed.
KeywordsAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>Filled G-EMechanical PropertiesTwo-Body Abrasive WearScanning Electron Microscopy
“ASM Handbook,” ASM International, Materials Park, Vol. 18, 1992.
K. Friedrich, Z. Lu and A. M. Hager, “Recent Advances in Polymer Composites Tribology,” Wear, Vol. 190, No. 2, 1996, pp. 139-144. doi:10.1016/0043-1648(96)80012-3
J. K. Lancaster, “The Effect of Carbon Fiber Reinforcement on Friction and Wear of Polymers,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 1, No. 5, 1968, pp. 549-555.
Z. Lu, K. Friedrich, W. Pannhorst and J. Heinz, “Wear and Friction of Unidirectional Carbon Fiber-Glass Matrix Composite against Various Counterparts,” Wear, Vol. 162-164, 1993, pp. 1103-1110. doi:10.1016/0043-1648(93)90129-A
B. Viswnath, A. P. Verma and C. V. S. Kameswara Rao, “Effect of Reinforcement on Friction and Wear of Fabric Reinforced Polymer Composites,” Wear, Vol. 167, No. 2, 1998, pp. 93-99. doi:10.1016/0043-1648(93)90313-B
K. H. Zum Gahr, “Wear by Hard Particles,” Tribology International, Vol. 31, No. 10, 1998, pp. 587-596. doi:10.1016/S0301-679X(98)00079-6
I. M. Hutchings, “Mechanism of Wear in Powder Technology: A Review,” Powder Technology, Vol. 76, No. 1, 1993, pp. 3-13. doi:10.1016/0032-5910(93)80035-9
M. J. Neale and M. Gee, “Guide to Wear Problems and Testing for Industry,” William Andrew Publishing, New York, 2001.
“Standard Terminology Relating to Wear and Erosion,” Annual Book of Standards, ASTM, Vol. 3, 1987, pp. 243-250.
K. N. Shivakumar, G. Swaminathan and M. Sharpe, “Carbon/Vinyl Ester Composites for Enhanced Performance in Marine Applications,” Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, Vol. 25, No. 10, 2006, pp. 1101-1116. doi:10.1177/0731684406065194
B. Suresha, G. Chandramohan, P. Sampathkumaran, S. Seetharamu and S. Vynatheya, “Friction and Wear Characteristics of Carbon-Epoxy and Glass-Epoxy Woven Roving Fiber Composites,” Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, Vol. 25, No. 7, 2006, pp. 771-782. doi:10.1177/0731684406063540
C. Soutis, “Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics in Aircraft Construction,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 412, No. 1-2, 2005, pp. 171-176. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2005.08.064
J. Bijwe, R. Rattan and M. Fahim, “Erosive Wear of Carbon Fabric Reinforced Polyetherimide Composites: Role of Amount of Fabric and Processing Technique,” Polymer Composites, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2008, pp. 337-344. doi:10.1002/pc.20544
R. Rattan and J. Bijwe, “Carbon Fabric Reinforced Polyetherimide Composites: Influence of Weave of Fabric and Processing Parameters on Performance Properties and Erosive Wear,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 420, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 342-350. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2006.01.090
J. L. Abot, A. Yasmin, A. J. Jacobsen and I. M. Daniel, “In-Plane Mechanical, Thermal and Viscoelastic Properties of a Satin Fabric Carbon/Epoxy Composite,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 64, No. 2, 2004, pp. 263-268. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00279-3
R. Park and J. Jang, “The Effects of Hybridization on the Mechanical Performance of Aramid/Polyethylene Intraply Fabric Composites,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 58, No. 10, 1998, pp. 1621-1628. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(97)00228-5
J. Bijwe and R. Rattan, “Influence of Weave of Carbon Fabric in Polyetherimide Composites in Various Wear Situations,” Wear, Vol. 263, No. 7-12, 2007, pp. 984-991. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2006.12.030
W. I. J. Zaini, M. Y. A. Fuad, Z. Ismail, M. S. Mansor and J. Mustafah, “The Effect of Filler Content and Size on the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Oil Palm Wood Flour Composite,” Polymer International, Vol. 40, No. 1, 1996, pp. 51-55. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0126(199605)40:1 3.0.CO;2-I
A. P. Harsha and U. S. Tewari, “Tribo Performance of Polyaryletherketone Composites,” Polymer Testing, Vol. 21, No. 6, 2002, pp. 697-702. doi:10.1016/S0142-9418(01)00145-3
B. Suresha, G. Chandramohan, Siddaramaiah, P. Sampathkumaran and S. Seetharamu, “Three-Body Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Carbon and Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 443, No. 1-2, 2007, pp. 285-291. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2006.09.016
D. C. Evans and J. K. Lancaster, “The Wear of Polymers,” In: D. Scott, Ed., Treatise on Materials Science and Technology, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 13, 1979, pp. 85-139.
P. H. Shipway and N. K. Ngao, “Microscale Abrasive Wear of Polymeric Materials,” Wear, Vol. 255, No. 1-6, 2003, pp. 742-750. doi:10.1016/S0043-1648(03)00106-6
M. Cirino, R. B. Pipes and K. Friedrich, “Evaluation of Polymer Composites for Sliding and Abrasive Wear Applacations,” Composites, Vol. 19, No. 5, 1988, pp. 383- 392. doi:10.1016/0010-4361(88)90126-7
M. Cirino, K. Friedrich and R. B. Pipes, “The Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Continuous Fiber Polymer Composites,” Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 22, No. 7, 1987, pp. 235-247. doi:10.1007/BF01082134
C. Lhymn, K. E. Tempelmeyer and P. K. Davis, “The Abrasive Wear of Short Fiber Composites,” Composites, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1985, pp. 127-136. doi:10.1016/0010-4361(85)90619-6
K. Friedrich, “Advances in Composite Technology,” In: K. Friedrich and R. B. Pipes, Eds., Elsevier, The Netherlands, Vol. 8, 1993, pp. 209-276.
K. Friedrich, “Wear Model for Multiphase Materials and Synergistic Effect in Polymeric Hybrid Composites,” In: K. Friedrich and R. B. Pipes, Eds., Advances in Composite Technology, Composite Materials Series, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 1993.
J. Bijwe, C. M. Logani and U. S. Tewari, “Influence of Fillers and Fiber Reinforcement on Abrasive Wear Resistance of Some Polymeric Composites,” Proceeding of the International Conference on Wear of Materials, Denver, 8-14 April 1989, pp. 75-92.
B. Suresha, G. Chandramohan, P. Sampathkumaran and S. Seethuramu, “Investigation of the Friction and Wear Behavior of Glass-Epoxy Composite with and without Graphite Filler,” Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2007, pp. 81-93. doi:10.1177/0731684407069958
J. K. Lancaster, “Friction and Wear in Polymer Science,” In: A. D. Jenkins, Ed., A Material Science Hand Book, North Holland, Amsterdam, 1972.