Investigation on Effect of Fibre Volume and Fiber Orientation on Erosive Wear Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy (CFRP) Composites

Abstract

This paper investigates erosive wear properties of carbon-epoxy polymer composites. Hand layup technique was employed to fabricate the composite specimens. Sand erosion properties of carbon/epoxy polymer composites were examined by changing testing parameters such as varying angle of impact (300,450,600 and 900), velocity of impact of sand particles (48m/s and 70m/s) and Stand-Off distance (5mm and10mm); and also by changing composite processing parameters such as fiber volume (20%, 25%, and 30%) and fiber orientation (300,600 and 900). Irrespective of fiber volume and fiber orientation, rate of erosion shows increasing tendency, with increase of impact velocity. It was observed that with increase in fiber volume, erosion rate increases and where fiber orientation is concerned, increase of fiber orientation leads to increase in erosion rate. Irrespective of fiber orientation and fiber volume, Increase of Stand-Off distance leads to decrease in erosion rate. Finally the eroded surface morphology was observed by using SEM.