Tribological characteristics of graphite epoxy composites using adhesive wear experiments

Abstract

In this work, the characteristics of graphite/epoxy composites are estimated from a tribological perspective. Various weight percentages (0−7%) of graphite were used for adhesive wear experiments. The specific wear rate, friction coefficient, interface temperature and surface morphology of the composites were specified. Then the results were processed to obtain the optimum ratio in mixing the graphite with the epoxy. The main outcome of this work is to have established the significant effect of the fraction of weight of the graphite on the tribological achievement of the composites. Some intermediate weight percentage of the graphite in the epoxy composites is considered optimal for tribological achievement, since it significantly develops the resilience to wear and the frictional characteristics. Contrariwise, a higher amount of graphite in the composites (≥5%) has significantly negative effects on the tribological properties of the composites. Increasing the graphite content in the epoxy matrix has a positive effect on the interface temperature: the interface temperature went down as the graphite content rose. It was also clear that the higher the friction the higher the interface temperature. Regarding the surface roughness, the optimum graphite content in the epoxy composite was 3% in order to maintain low roughness surfaces for both the epoxy composites and the wear track of the stainless steel counterface.