Abstract
Recently, there has been rapid growth in research and innovation in natural fiber composites. The main reasons for the interest on these reinforcements over synthetic fiber reinforcements are their low environmental impact, low cost, and high flexural strength, which supports their potential across a wide range of applications. One of the promising applications of polymeric composite is polymeric gears, used in power and motion transmission work under different loads and speeds. In this work, polymeric spur gears are manufactured with various reinforcements like glass, sisal, and flax fiber in 15% and 20% weight percentage, and the gears are produced by molding process. The performance and wear of the gears are tested using a dynamic testing procedure. The tested gears are analyzed for modifications in tooth profile using scanning electron microscope. The weight loss as well as the thermal capability is studied using a contactless infra-red temperature (FLIR) camera. From the result, it is understood that the natural fiber-reinforced gears can be used for smooth and noiseless operation especially in intermittent applications.
Highlights
Polymeric gears are chosen for low power application such as gear motors for electromechanical actuators, gear pumps, billet roller cams, and drive shafts for car, and so on, over metal gears for its advantages like less weight, noiseless operation, minimal or no lubrications, and good corrosion resistance
The lead deviation phenomenon is observed by Senthilvelan et al [2] who found that glass fiber-reinforced gears exhibited a higher lead deviation than unreinforced gears, and many more findings prove the importance of identifying some other potential reinforcements, researchers started working on natural fiber reinforced composites
Satyanarayana et al [3] says that research and development of biodegradable composites will help in meeting local demand too, as the abundant biodegradable materials available in any region can be used for possible manufacturing of products with their prevailing technologies
Summary
Polymeric gears are chosen for low power application such as gear motors for electromechanical actuators, gear pumps, billet roller cams, and drive shafts for car, and so on, over metal gears for its advantages like less weight, noiseless operation, minimal or no lubrications, and good corrosion resistance. The common reinforcement in plastics are glass fibers. Researchers have shown interest in using natural fiber as a reinforcement in plastics as it has less density, good specific strength, and is biodegradable. Many studies are ongoing in this regard, Hirogaki et al [1] found out that glass fiber shows unacceptable wear phenomenon under power transmission compared with carbon fiber-reinforced gears, and finds wider applications, the cost of the gear is high. The lead deviation phenomenon is observed by Senthilvelan et al [2] who found that glass fiber-reinforced gears exhibited a higher lead deviation than unreinforced gears, and many more findings prove the importance of identifying some other potential reinforcements, researchers started working on natural fiber reinforced composites. Satyanarayana et al [3] says that research and development of biodegradable composites will help in meeting local demand too, as the abundant biodegradable materials available in any region can be used for possible manufacturing of products with their prevailing technologies
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