An investigation on tribology performance of Abutilon Indicum fibre reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

This research work investigates the tribological characteristics of Abutilon Indicum Fiber (AIF) reinforced composites with epoxy as the binding agent. The Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced composites were manufactured by compression molding technique. These composites were fabricated by varying the fiber volume fraction ranging from 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively and considering the fiber length as a fixed factor due to its short length. This research paper illustrates the effects of different fiber volume fractions (5,10,15 and 20%) on the tribological properties such as Specific wear rate (SWR) and Coefficient of friction (µ) of Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced composites. Sliding wear tests were carried out under dry environment conditions with pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The experiments were performed for each composite with different combinations of testing parameters, sliding loads (10, 20 and 30 N); sliding distances (1,2 and 3 km); sliding speeds (1,2 and 3 m/s). Shore D hardness of 78.22 is determined to be higher for 15% volume fraction of AIF composites. Results conclude that the addition of AIFs in these composites enhanced the tribological performance with good wear resistance in relation with the pure epoxy-based composites with 15% volume fraction of AIFs displaying best results with higher resistance to wear at various operating conditions. Composites produced with 20% volume fraction displays the effects of fiber agglomeration which in turn has an inverse effect on hardness; limits the wear resistance with higher friction and wear rate and such results agree well with the wear debris, pits and contact patches in micrographs. Optimal fiber volume fraction of 15% was suggested in fabrication of composites for usage of AIFs as friction material.