Tribological Behaviour of Carbon Fibre Polymer Composites Reinforced with Nano-fillers

Nano-fillers reinforced with polymer-based composites have found to enhance the tribological properties in polymer composites. Alumina (Al₂O₃) and molybdenum-di-sulphide (MoS₂) were selected as nano-fillers in the present research work. Al₂O₃ and MoS₂ fillers were mixed with the epoxy resin in the concentration of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.7% by volume of the epoxy resin. The reinforced epoxy resin was used as a matrix material along with the aircraft grade carbon fabric as the primary reinforcement. Test panels were fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding technique (VARTM), and samples were extracted using water jet cut as per the dimensions given in the ASTM standards of three-body wear (ASTM G-65) and two-body wear (ASTM G-99). Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies revealed the even distribution of the MoS₂ when disbursed with ultrasonicator than by manual mixing. The three-body and two-body wear tests were carried out at a load of 24 and 48 N. The composite reinforced with 0.4% of MoS₂ particulate has shown the decrease in wear rate by 20.45% as compared to that of the Al₂O₃ particulate-based composites in three-body wear test when the applied load was 48 N, whereas in two-body wear test, the composite reinforced with 0.4% of MoS₂ particulate has shown the decrease in wear rate by 16.13% as compared to that of the Al₂O₃ particulate-based composites. SEM studies of worn-out surfaces revealed that the mode of failure in worn-out samples was due to delaminate at the fibre matrix interface. SEM images also revealed that better bonding between fibre and matrix can be well achieved for the 0.4% concentration of nano-reinforcements as compared to that of the composites with 0.2% concentration of nano-reinforcements.