Sliding Wear Properties of Palm/Glass Fiber Hybrid Reinforced Vinylester Resin

Abstract

In this work, an experimental investigation was proposed for the evaluation the wear resistance of hybrid polymer composite inter-layer of Petiole date palm fiber (PDPF) and glass fiber (GF). In order to enhance the interfacial of hydrophobic fibers (PDPF) and hydrophilic (Vinylester resin), chemical treatment was proposed based on 5% NaOH for 48 h. Besides, the glass fiber (woven) was used in order to increase the specific stiffness and the dimensional stability of specimens. The manufacturing of four hybrids specimens was done using a VARTM process [(30PDPF/0GF), (20PDPF/10GF), (10PDPF/20GF) and (0PDPF/30GF)]. The wear characteristics were evaluated at a sliding distance of (1000 m), sliding velocity (1.7 m/s) and applied loads (20 and 40 N). Scanning electron microscopy was performed on both treated alkali fiber and worn surfaces of hybrid specimens to evaluate the surface modification and wear mechanisms, respectively. The adding of glass fiber to PDP fibers was advantageous on the wear resistance, where it improved the wear resistance of 30PDPF/0GF around 190 and 310% as compared to (20PDPF/10GF) and (10PDPF/20GF), respectively. The adding of loads was disproportional to wear resistance. The SEM of worn surfaces showed debonding and bending of fibers, and fragmentation, fiber broken, and deformation on the resinous regions. In the end, the hybridization by 20% of glass fibers exhibits a high wear resistance relative to its nature (partially bio-friendly) and price.