Influence of micron size aluminum particles on the aging properties and wear resistance of epoxy resin coatings

Abstract

Abstract In this work, an unoxidized aluminum particle/epoxy composite coating was used to cover the surface of pure epoxy resin to reduce the loss of strength after water-heat aging and to improve the wear resistance. The samples were maintained in a water bath at 80°C for 100 days to accelerate the aging process. After water-heat aging, the tensile and bending strengths of the pure epoxy samples were reduced from 30 MPa and 60 MPa, respectively, to 26 MPa and 55 MPa, respectively. However, the tensile and bending strengths of the sample with 6 wt.% aluminum particles were reduced from 39 MPa and 95 MPa to 36 MPa and 89 MPa, respectively. The sample with 6 wt.% aluminum particles exhibited the lowest tensile and bending strength loss rates, 7.2% and 6.1%, respectively, which were 37.4% and 40.8% lower, respectively, than those of the pure epoxy. Additionally, the wear rate and friction coefficient of the samples with 6 wt.% aluminum particles were 2.5×10-6 cm3/min·N and 0.415, respectively, corresponding to a reduction of 35.9% and 30.0%, respectively, compared with the pure epoxy. Thus, it was found that the addition of unoxidized aluminum particles can efficiently increase the water-heat aging resistance and wear resistance of epoxy resin.