Studies on Tribological Behavior of Polyamide Filled Jute Fiber-Nano-ZnO Hybrid Composites

Abstract

In this study, the tribological performance of Polyamide (PA) based hybrid composites have filled with short jute fibers (JF) and nano ZnO particles, which are fabricated with different volume fractions, and it was machined (test specimens) as per ASTM-G99 standard. Wear tests were conducted by pin-on-disc (POD) test rig, is a new test setup for online measuring of wear rate (WR) and friction coefficient (COF). Experiments were conducted based on central composite rotatable design (CCD), with the input parameters like normal force (NF), sliding velocity (SV) and reinforcements (RF) on wear rate and friction coefficient. The mathematical models were developed by using response surface methodology (RSM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test also carried out to check the adequacy of the developed empirical models. The debris and the worn out surfaces were observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). Despite extensive research on composites, determining the desirable operating conditions in industrial setting still relies on the skill of the operators and trial-and-error methods. The main intension of this work is to optimize the tribological variables for minimum wear and friction based on multi-objective optimization techniques (MOOT). This was probably due to the fact that PA has good flexibility and for the incorporation of reinforcements, it is believed that a continuous thin coherent transfer films and tribo chemical reactions were involved by hybrid composites on the steel counterface, which contributes a lower friction and wear. This debris was re-adhered on the mating surfaces which improves the wear resistance and prevent the oxidation and degradation behavior more effectively, which might be one of the anti-wear mechanisms of nano ZnO fillers. Both wear rate and friction coefficient of the hybrid composites were significantly lower than those of the pure polyamide.