Optimization of dry-sliding wear parameters on carbon fiber reinforced polyester composites using taguchi based greyrelation analysis

Abstract

Fiber reinforced polymer composite materials gradually replace traditional metallic materials due to their high specific strength. The cost of composites, however, is still higher than the traditional materials. This paper examined the dry-sliding wear behaviour using a pin-on-disc type of wear arrangement on carbon fiber reinforced polyester (CFRP) composites, which were fabricated with the help of die-casting technique. The carbon fiber reinforced polyester specimens have been subjected to dry-sliding wear tests against a EN32 steel disc. The rate of wear and frictional force were selected as responses variables to the varying percentages of reinforcement, loads, sliding velocity and sliding distance were opted as control variables. The experimental design was carried out by using the Taguchi L16 OA (Orthogonal Array). The approach used in the initial step of optimization is the dry-sliding performance of carbon fiber reinforced polyester composites was GRA (Grey Relational Analysis). Based on the GRA, the rate of wear and frictional force were found to be the parameters at optimum level for the whole GRG (Grey Relational Grade).According to the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) result based on GRG, the most important process parameters influencing the wear performance of the composites were found to be load and percentage of reinforcement, which influenced the wear performance of the composites by 60% and 28% respectively, followed by sliding distance and sliding velocity.