Abstract
Tribological properties of the novel Borassus fruit fine fiber- (BFF-) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites with respect to fiber matrix surface modifications have been described. Composites were fabricated by an injection molding process using Borassus fruit fine fiber (BFF) of 5 wt.% as reinforcement and polypropylene (PP) as a matrix component. Fibers were treated with alkali (T) to remove the residual lignin (if present) and to enhance the interfacial adhesion between the fiber/matrix interface. Alkali treatment reveals additional reactive functional groups here on the surface of the Borassus fiber, allowing effective interaction bonding with the polypropylene matrix. Borassus fibers are primarily treated with an alkali solution to extract weaker unstructured amorphous constituents so that the fibers retain crystallized components, thereby strengthening the fiber’s strength. A 5 wt.% of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a compatibilizer to improve the interfacial adhesion between fiber and the polymer matrix. The wear and frictional behavior of BFF/PP composites with respect to the modifications were evaluated by steel counterface utilizing pin-on-disc test contraption under dry-sliding conditions. The sliding velocity, applied load, and sliding distance were maintained as 2.198 m/s, 9.81–29.43 N, and 4000 m, respectively. The results demonstrate that the reinforcement of BFF to polypropylene matrix and the modifications improved the wear properties of the neat polymer matrix. Findings concluded that the abrasive wear resistance of T + PP + MAPP composite showed better interfacial adhesion and bonding, thus resulting in better tribological performance as compared to the other three compositions under different loading conditions. The effective substantial improvement of the coefficient of friction has been observed in alkali-treated fiber and polypropylene matrix with MAPP compatibilizer (T + PP + MAPP) composites due to the presence of MAPP compatibilizer and alkali-treated fibers. The frictional coefficient of T + PP + MAPP possesses better interfacial bonding strength upon NaOH treatment, and coupling agent, which results in enhancement of effective contact surface area and good surface friction characteristics, has been observed under different loading conditions. The fracture mechanism of worn-out portions of BFF/PP composites was studied using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy to analyze various imperfections like debonding, splits, fiber cracks, and wreckage or fragments formation.
Highlights
Polymer matrix composites (PMC) have shown a huge possibility due to their lower cost, good lubricating properties, and lower weight to strength ratio [1]
Many researchers have reported that the tribobehavior of the composite materials was enhanced by adding natural fiber in the polymer matrix; this behavior was dependent on the fiber orientation, length, volume fraction, fiber size, and test conditions like load, speed, and temperature [2]. e research work and the applications of natural fiber polymer composite (NFPC) material are gradually increasing, mainly due to environmental concerns. e dimensional shape and friction behavior of NFPC can improve by adding fillers. e change in the friction behavior of NFPC by adding fillers has shown much importance and attracted research interests
Hasmi et al [3], while working on cotton fiber polyester resin with graphite filler composites with varying load and sliding distance, observed that the coefficient of friction (COF) of the material was higher for the graphite filled material compared to the unfilled one. e authors studied the sliding wear performance of cotton fiber-reinforced polyester composites for various load applications by using different graphite weight proportions. e specific wear rate of composites was diminished upon an increase in graphite content with the incorporation of cotton fibers
Summary
Polymer matrix composites (PMC) have shown a huge possibility due to their lower cost, good lubricating properties, and lower weight to strength ratio [1]. Many researchers have worked on the natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites to identify the friction behavior of the materials. Hasmi et al [3], while working on cotton fiber polyester resin with graphite filler composites with varying load and sliding distance, observed that the coefficient of friction (COF) of the material was higher for the graphite filled material compared to the unfilled one. Shalwan et al [9] and Ibrahem et al [10] worked on plant-based natural fiber with the polymer matrix composites with the graphite fillers Both the studies came to the same conclusion that, with increased graphite filler, the COF of the material was reduced. Additional growth in evaluation and enhancements of the tribological properties of polymers and PBMs, that is, their composites and formulations, can be achieved by identifying the connection between the friction factors and the wear mechanisms and by modifying the surface structures at micro- and nanolevels
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