The Influence of Sliding Velocity on the Wear Intensity in Case of Polymeric Composite Materials Reinforced with Short Carbon Fibers

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the tribological properties of polymeric composite materials reinforced with short carbon fibers. Reinforces carbon fibers materials are more effective if refer to specific properties per unit volume compared to conventional isotropic materials. Potential benefits of carbon fibers composite materials are: high resistance to breakage and high value ratios strength/density; resistance to high temperatures; low density and high resistance to wear; low or high friction coefficient. The composites are complex and versatile materials; their versatility it is given by the multitude of choice variety of the constituent materials that can be combined to obtain the desired properties of otherwise unobtainable from conventional materials. The composite materials used in this research work are obtained combining epoxy with short carbon fibers with titanium carbide and tantalum carbide in order to investigate the variation of the friction coefficient for three different sliding velocities. Varying the percent of epoxy from 29,35% to 43,92% and the percent of short carbon fibers from 35,43% to 53,70%, nine different composite materials are obtained and tested. Friction tests are carried out, at room temperature, in dry conditions, on a pin-on-disc machine. The friction coefficient was measured maintaining constant the pressing force (8 daN) and sliding time (120 sec), and varying the sliding velocity to 8, 14 and 23 m/sec. The main objective of this research work it was to identify a composite material with higher friction coefficient.