Elaboration and Tribo-Micromechanical and Structural Characterization of Powdered ABS/Cu Composites

Abstract

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to analyse the morphological, micro-mechanical and tribological behaviors of copper (Cu) filled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites. Pure ABS, ABS + 5wt.% Cu, ABS + 10wt.% Cu and ABS + 15wt.% Cu were the four materials evaluated. The composites were mixed by an internal mixer with two blade impellers followed by an injection molding step in a laboratory scale. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-tomography scan were used to investigate the dispersion of Cu particles in the ABS matrix. Observations showed that the filler particles are spherical in shape with uniform distribution in the matrix. Nanoindentation measurements were also conducted, it was found that the results of indentation hardness and indentation elastic modulus of the different micro-composites were homogeneous. The incorporation of copper powder to ABS matrix improved the different results of the micromechanical properties. Furthermore, the friction properties of pure ABS and copper filled ABS composites were tested using a pin on disc rotating tribometer. It was established that the copper powder decreased the friction coefficient of the prepared composites appreciably. Wear mechanisms were excessive in case of neat ABS, the addition of copper powder revealed few wear damages in case of ABS/Cu composites. The best response in friction was obtained with ABS + 15wt.% Cu.KeywordsCompositeABSCuMicroparticuleMicrostructureNanoindentationElastic modulusHardnessFriction