Influence of fibre orientation on three-body abrasive wear behaviour of unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced polyetherimide composite

Three-body abrasive wear behaviour of neat polyetherimide (PEI) and unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced PEI (CF/PEI) has been studied using a rubber wheel abrasion test rig. The abrasive wear studies were carried out at different loads (5–20 N) at a constant sliding velocity (v = 2.4 m/s) of rubber wheel. The influence of fibre orientation, i.e. parallel (P-fibre orientation) and anti-parallel (AP-fibre orientation) on wear rate of CF/PEI composite has also been studied. The results showed that the fibre orientation has a significant influence on the three-body abrasive wear behaviour of CF/PEI. The abrasive wear rate was higher when fibres are oriented at anti-parallel than that of parallel orientation of fibres. The worn surfaces have been observed using scanning electron microscope to understand the possible wear mechanisms involved during material removal processes.