Optimum Filler Content Research Articles

Investigations on morphology, tribology, rheology, thermo-mechanical properties, and EMI shielding of WC/MWCNT nanohybrids in polypropylene

This study is focused to explore the synergism of dual nanofillers (tungsten carbide (WC) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) in melt extruded PP composites. The synergy of fillers in PP enhanced the elastic modulus, tensile strength, and critical stress intensity factor by 141.8%, 35.4%, and 62.6%, respectively, at an optimum filler content of 1 wt% of WC and 2 wt% of MWCNTs. In the hybrid composites, activation energy to initiate thermal decomposition raised by 78% and wear resistance increased by 93%, and the hybrid composites exhibited enhanced reflectivity in the X band region, which contributed to high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness. The improvement in the properties makes the current hybrid composite system an ideal candidate in application sectors where high modulus, energy absorption, and thermal stability are required.

Determination of optimum limestone filler content in asphalt mastic by dielectric spectroscopy

The rheological and dielectric characteristics of asphalt mastics with different ratios of limestone filler were analyzed and compared with each other for road pavement applications. The dielectric properties of asphalt mastics are studied as a function of frequency (0,1–106 Hz) at different temperatures ((-)40°C−40°C). The glass transition temperature and the relaxation behaviour were determined by Vogel–Fulcher-Tamman and Cole–Cole equations, respectively. The free volume fraction was calculated by the Dolittle equation. The filler ratio dependence of the dielectric properties was attributed to the variation of the void fraction. This result was related to the glass transition temperature and ductility. The sample with 6 wt% limestone filler showed the highest dielectric constant value among all samples for all temperatures due to the excellent adhesion between binder and filler. Consequently, it was determined to be the optimum value to design hot mix asphalt for use in territories with high-temperature differences.

Effective utilisation of waste cement concrete dust in bituminous concrete

The suitability of waste cement concrete dust (CD) and conventional hydrated lime (HL) as fillers in bituminous concrete was investigated. Bituminous mixes containing CD or HL in different proportions were designed. Their performance was studied using the Marshall quotient, indirect tensile strength, tensile strength ratio (TSR), passive and active adhesion and Cantabro tests. The cost of the various mixes and their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were also compared. Finally, the optimum filler content for both mixes was determined. The mixes containing CD displayed rutting, cracking and ravelling resistance similar to those of conventional mixes. CD offered improved affinity towards bitumen and ensured excellent moisture resistance (TSR > 80%). Compared with a traditional mix (4% HL), the use of CD marginally lowered the cost by around 3–8% and reduced the GHG emissions by more than 50%. Overall, the addition of CD ensured satisfactory engineering performance at a relatively lower cost and significantly lower GHG emissions.

Performance of hot-mix asphalt using polymer-modified bitumen and marble dust as a filler

Marble dust waste powder generated by the marble cutting industry has a high alkalinity. In this research, the use of marble dust (MD) as a mineral filler substitute in hot mixed asphalt (HMA) was evaluated. The Marshall mix design was used to determine the optimum bitumen content (OBC) for all of the mixtures. For each of the four MD contents, i.e., 0, 2%, 4%, and 6% by weight of the total aggregates, four different bitumen percentages were used. The results of the Marshall stability test showed that the optimum filler content was 4% MD. Samples were prepared with 0 MD in the control mix and varying percentages of MD as an alternate filler. In addition, MD aided in increasing the Marshall stability, rutting resistance, and permanent deformation and reduced the fatigue life of asphalt mixtures. As the percentage of MD increases, the rutting resistance and stiffness at high temperatures both increase. As the percentage of MD increases, the fatigue life reduces. Rut resistance in high-temperature conditions can be improved by using MD in HMA as a partial substitute for stone dust (SD). In areas where extensive MD waste is present, MD can be incorporated into HMA mixtures instead of conventional fillers.

Influence of SiC nanoparticles on properties of alkali‐treated areca fruit husk fiber/hybrid polymer composites

AbstractThis work presents the comprehensive characterization of alkali treated areca fruit husk fiber (AAFHF) an industrial agro‐waste reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) matrix hybrid composite with silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles as filler material. Hybrid composite plates were fabricated with 40 wt% of AAFHF and diverse wt% of SiC nanoparticles ranging from 1 to 4 wt% in steps of 1 wt%. The effect of wt% of SiC nanoparticles in hybrid composite over mechanical, morphological, wear, thermal and water absorption characteristics was investigated. The findings help to conclude that a hybrid composite plate with 3 wt% filler content excels in overall properties. Meanwhile, the accumulation and meager scattering of SiC nanoparticles in composite deteriorated the functional characteristics when the wt% of filler content enhanced to 4 wt%. Also, the failure pattern and interaction between AAFHF, SiC nanoparticle and UPR were understood from the images obtained using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In addition, the availability of functional groups, crystallite size and crystallinity index was obtained from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis for the optimum filler content respectively. Moreover, the achieved results suggest the suitability of the developed composite for marine and lightweight applications.

Performance evaluation of coal dust and wood powder ash as alternates of conventional filler in the asphalt concrete

Mineral fillers provide a significant role in the Marshall properties of hot mix asphalt for paving applications. The article's goal is to assess the suitability and effectiveness of two minerals (coal dust and wood powder ash) used as fillers in asphalt concrete. Chemical composition test using X-ray fluorescence indicated a high content of SiO2, Fe2O3, and Al2O3, which encouraged us to select the coal dust and wood powder ash as mineral fillers for further investigation. A total of 90 cylindrical Marshall Specimens, made with different percentages (i.e., 4%-8%) of coal dust, wood powder ash, and conventional stone dust filler were prepared to assess the performance of individual filler within the asphalt concrete mix. And after that, volumetric characteristics such as density, stability-flow test, air void, and voids in mineral aggregates have been analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of every sample and, afterward, to find out the optimum asphalt content. Finally, the optimum asphalt content for every filler material was ascertained, and subsequently, Marshall properties were checked again to assess the optimum filler content in the mix that satisfy all the standard criteria. The overall Marshall properties for both fillers were within the acceptable limits. Though the optimum asphalt content was higher for coal dust than wood powder ash and stone dust, the wood powder ash showed better durability than coal dust. All mixtures have been found to have better resistance to deformation, fatigue, and moisture-induced damages; however, 4% coal dust and 6% wood powder ash satisfied most of the Marshall criteria than other percentages.

Mixture design and performance characterization of asphalt mixtures prepared using paving-heavy crude oils for low-traffic volume roads

Low-volume road development, a fundamental part of national economic infrastructure, requires further advances in identifying alternative materials for their construction. One of these alternative materials is paving-heavy crude oil (PHCO), defined as natural liquid asphalt. However, research on these materials is scarce, and no standards or specifications currently exist for preparing asphalt mixtures using PHCO (AM-PHCO). This paper assesses the feasibility of (i) designing AM-PHCO through the Modified Marshall Method for Cutback Asphalt-Aggregate Cold Mixture Design, with optimum filler content determined via energy parameters, and (ii) evaluating and differentiating moisture-damage and fracture resistances of AM-PHCO through conventional- and unconventional-testing. After characterizing the asphalt products, the mix design was performed for ten asphalt mixtures. Then, the performance of these mixtures was assessed through Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength, Fenix, and semicircular bending tests. The study included two neat and two nano-modified PHCOs and a couple of mineral fillers to produce AM-PHCO compared to control mixtures fabricated with a penetration asphalt binder. Results support the conclusions that (i) the mix design method used applies to AM-PHCO, providing new technical criteria to improve them through mix design standardization, (ii) mineral filler content optimization for AM-PHCO can use energy parameters computed from surface free energy, and (iii) testing employed in this study can differentiate AM-PHCO moisture damage resistance and fracture resistance. However, additional research can evaluate the suitability of adjusting conditioning protocols and current specifications for retained Marshall stability (75%) and retained tensile strength (80%) in characterizing AM-PHCO. Lastly, further research could explore PHCO aging effects on AM-PHCO performance and complementary performance parameters, including fatigue life, rutting resistance, and stiffness.

Effect of combined micro and nano silicon carbide particles addition on mechanical, wear and moisture absorption features of basalt bidirectional mat/vinyl ester composites

AbstractBasalt fiber reinforcement in polymer composites has recently become very competitive to the routinely used synthetic fiber reinforcements. In the present work, composite specimens were prepared with basalt fiber mat reinforcement in vinyl ester matrix along with varying quantity of the micro and nano silicon carbide (SiC) filler particle ranging from 1 to 5 wt% in combination. Tribological and water absorption properties of the developed hybrid composites were tested to ascertain its potential for commercial applications. The specimen made of SiC particle addictive combination of 3 wt% nano and 3 wt% micro particle exhibited better mechanical characteristics and this mechanical advantage declines beyond 3 wt% SiC filler addition due to agglomeration and poor dispersion of filler particles in the hybrid composite. The microstructural investigation done via scanning electron microscopy reveals the modes of failure, where better pull‐out resistance was displayed by the fiber bonding characteristics with the filler and vinyl ester matrix up to 3 wt% nano and 3 wt% micro SiC filler content. Similarly, the tribological characteristics of the composite specimen for the optimum filler content specimen were superior in comparison with other combinations. Moreover, the water absorption features of the developed hybrid composites were within the acceptable limits for marine and structural applications.

Physical, Mechanical, and Morphological Performances of Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) Fiber Reinforced Arrowroot Starch Biopolymer Composites.

This research is driven by stringent environmental legislation requiring the consumption and use of environmentally friendly materials. In this context, this paper is concerned with the development and characterization of thermoplastic arrowroot starch (TPAS) based biocomposite films by incorporating arrowroot fiber (AF) (0–10%) into a glycerol plasticized matrix by using the solution casting method. Developed TPAS/AF composite films were investigated, such as physical, morphological (FESEM), tensile, and tear strength characteristics. The tensile and tear strengths of TPAS/AF composites were increased significantly from 4.77 to 15.22 MPa and 0.87 to 1.28 MPa, respectively, as compared to the control TPAS films, which were 2.42 MPa and 0.83 MPa, respectively, while elongation was significantly decreased from 25.57 to 6.21% compared to control TPAS film, which was 46.62%. The findings revealed that after the fiber was reinforced, the mechanical properties were enhanced, and the optimum filler content was 10%. Regardless of fiber loadings, the results of water absorption testing revealed that the composite films immersed in seawater and rainwater absorbed more water than distilled water. Overall, the results of this research focus on providing information on biopolymer composite film and revealing the great potential it has for the food packaging industry.

Porous carbon black-polymer composites for volatile organic compound adsorption and efficient microwave-assisted desorption

Adsorbents with high surface area, thermal stability and microwave absorption ability are highly desired for cyclic adsorption and microwave regeneration processes. However, most polymeric adsorbents are transparent to microwaves. Herein, porous hyper-crosslinked polymers (HCP) of (4,4′-bis((chloromethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl-benzyl chloride)) with different carbon black (CB) contents were synthesized via the Friedel-Crafts reaction. CB was selected as the filler due to its low cost and high dielectric loss and was embedded inside the polymer structure during polymerization. CB-containing composites showed enhanced thermal stability at elevated temperatures, and more than a 90-times increase in the dielectric loss factor, which is favorable for microwave regeneration. Nitrogen physisorption analysis by the Bruner-Emmett-Teller isotherms demonstrated that CB presence in the polymer structure nonlinearly decreases the surface area and total pore volume (by 38% and 26%, respectively at the highest CB load). Based on the characterization testing, 4 wt% of CB was found to be an optimum filler content, having the highest MW absorption and minimal effect on the adsorbent porosity. HCP with 4 wt% CB allowed a substantial increase in the desorption temperature and yielded more than a 450% enhancement in the desorption efficiency compared to HCP without CB.

Synthesis and characterization of biopolyols through biomass liquefaction of wood shavings and their application in the preparation of polyurethane wood composites

The sustainability of production systems in wood processing, wood industry, and wooden waste disposal is an important issue for European industry and society. Proper development of products based on renewable wood resources gives an opportunity to provide materials with long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This study aims to establish a new way of forestry and agricultural waste materials utilization by synthesis of bio-based polyols and manufacturing of polyurethane wood composites (PU-WC). The first part of this paper describes the liquefaction of wood shavings at a temperature of 150 °C for 6 h in three different solvents—glycerol, poly (ethylene glycol) and their mixture in a 1:1 ratio. The second part deals with the synthesis of polyurethane (PU) resins containing 90% of biopolyol. Eight sets of materials with different NCO:OH ratios were obtained in a one-step method using a hydraulic press. These materials were characterized, and the material with the most promising properties was selected for polyurethane wood composites production. Composites with 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% of wood shavings were obtained. The addition of filler caused an increase in flexural strength, Young`s modulus, hardness, and impact strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed good adhesion between the polymer and the filler. The optimum filler content is between 50 and 60% by weight of the composite. The presented study provides a significant step toward a greener alternative for materials produced mainly from non-renewable resources.

Bimetallic MOFs-derived yolk-shell structure ZnCo/NC@TiO2 and its microwave absorbing properties

Bimetallic MOFs with core–shell morphology are prepared by feeding step by step. Sandwich type ZIF-67@ZIF-8@TiO2 is prepared by coating TiO2 shell layer on the surface of the obtained ZIF-67@ZIF-8 via hydrolysis technology. After pyrolysis of ZIF-67@ZIF-8@TiO2, ZnCo/NC@TiO2 composite wave absorber with yolk-shell structure is fabricated. The evaporation of zinc, volatilization of organic components and shrinkage of carbon layer at high temperature result in a larger cavity between the core and shell. Large specific surface area, pore volume and cavity structure are favorable for multiple interface reflection. Existence of multiple heterogeneous interfaces, unevenly distribution of space charges accumulated between the interfaces, abundant crystal defects and doped atoms lead to the continuous occurrence of interface/dipole polarization. These make the absorber exhibits excellent microwave absorption performance. The study shows that under the optimum carbonization temperature (700 ℃) and filler content (37%), minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of ZnCo/NC@TiO2 reaches −46.21 dB@9.5 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.8 mm. Meanwhile, by adjusting the thickness of absorber, the effective bandwidth can cover 4.3–18 GHz. Maximum effective absorption bandwidth is up to 4.5 GHz. This work will provide a new strategy for the effective construction of yolk-shell microwave absorbing materials derived from bimetallic MOFs as well as performance optimization of existing microwave absorbing materials.

Behaviour of PLA/POSS nanocomposites: Effects of filler content, functional group and copolymer compatibilization

The main purpose of this study was to investigate influences of three parameters on the mechanical and thermal properties of the polylactide (PLA) matrix nanocomposites filled with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles. For the first parameter of “Filler Content”, nanocomposites with 1, 3, 5, 7 wt% basic POSS structure were compared. For the second parameter of “Functional Group,” basic POSS structure having only nonpolar isobutyl groups were compared with three other functionalized POSS structures; i.e. aminopropylisobutyl-POSS (ap-POSS), propanediolisobutyl-POSS (pd-POSS) and octasilane-POSS (os-POSS). Finally, for the third parameter of “Copolymer Compatibilization,” all specimens were compared before and after their maleic anhydride (MA) grafted copolymer compatibilization. Specimens were produced with twin-screw extruder melt mixing and shaped under compression molding. Various tests and analyses indicated that the optimum filler content for the improved mechanical properties was 1 wt%; while the optimum structure for strength and modulus was pd-POSS structure, in terms of fracture toughness it was basic POSS structure. Additional use of MA compatibilization was especially effective for the basic POSS and os-POSS particles.

Machine Learning for Advanced Design of Nanocomposite Ultrafiltration Membranes

Although the incorporation of nanoparticles into ultrafiltration polymeric membranes has shown promising outcomes, their commercial implementation has yet to be fulfilled due to inconsistency in data, lack of a reliable recipe for the optimum filler content, and reluctance in disrupting the production line which requires significant time and resources. There is a growing demand among membrane communities for a design platform that can accelerate the discovery of new nanocomposite membranes. In this work, a feed-forward ANN (artificial neural network) model that has one hidden layer and the Bayesian regularization training algorithm were chosen for designing a graphical user interface platform to predict the ultrafiltration nanocomposite membrane performance, that is, solute rejection, flux recovery, and pure water flux, thereby saving time and resources used in membrane design. Experimental data (735 samples from 200 reports published between 2006 and 2020) were derived from the literature for training, validation, and testing of the ANN models. The results indicated that the best 30 ANN models produce the most accurate estimation of membrane performance using the seven input variables of polymer concentration, polymer type, filler concentration, average filler size, solvent concentration (in the dope solution), solvent type, and contact angle on the unseen data set. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the achieved models to identify the most effective input variables for each nanocomposite membrane performance. This work has the potential to be extended to other mixed matrix membrane types that are going to be used for microfiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and so forth.

Deformation and dynamic stability of asphalt concrete by using granite dust as filler

Asphalt Concrete – Wearing Course (AC-WC) is a surface layer of flexible pavement which have direct contact with vehicle wheel. One of the surface layer damage categories is the wheel track (rutting). In this research, the experiment was done by using industrial waste of granite stone production in the form of dust as filler in the AC-WC mixture. The variation of filler content used are 3%, 4.5%, 6%, 7.5% and 9% with cement filler as comparator. The test was conducted by using wheel tracking machine on temperature of 60˚C, 45˚C and 30˚C. The test result shows that the optimum filler content using granite dust in the AC-WC mixture is 3%. Meanwhile the optimum filler content on the asphalt concrete using cement filler is 7.5%. Thus, it shows that the higher temperature cause the ability of maintaining the wheel track decreased. Furthermore, if looking at the relation between dynamical stability, deformation depth and deformation velocity on filler concentration is not linear.

Sustainability Assessment of the Engineering Properties of Asphalt Concrete Incorporating Pulverized Snail Shell Ash as Partial Replacement for Filler

In furtherance to the search for reliable and cost-effective road construction materials which is expected to engender the development of sustainable and less expensive pavements, coupled with the increase in agricultural wastes due to the current rise in the consumption of white meat, this research investigated the engineering properties of modified bitumen and subsequent performance of asphaltic concrete incorporating Pulverized Snail Shell Ash (PSSA) as strength modifier and filler. In order to achieve specific objectives, preliminary physical and chemical tests were initialized to characterize the virgin bitumen and snail shell ash. Pulverized proportions of the snail shell ash were blended with bitumen at 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % respectively by weight of mineral aggregates; and subsequently incorporated as filler at the same proportions. The rotational viscometer and penetrometer were engaged to determine the viscosity and penetration of the modified bitumen, and the Marshall mix design method was used to determine the mechanical and rheological characteristics of the resultant asphaltic concrete composites. The modification of bitumen with snail shell ash resulted in a decrease in penetration of virgin bitumen from 80/100 pen to 60/70 pen, including the rotational viscosity. Different mixtures of PSSA at the aforementioned proportions, were evaluated by the design method according to Marshall. The stability was found to be higher than the control mix at 30% of grade which satisfied the Marshall specification for wearing course mixes. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed the presence of Oxygen and Calcium in the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) modified with PSSA, while the scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a good blend of the aggregates. The results suggest feasible use of PSSA as partial aggregate substitution in HMA. It was noted that the PSSA was finer than the conventional mineral filler and it filled the voids, engendered a stiffer, and denser mix, as well as reduced the number of voids present in the mix and increased its stability. Experimental results indicated higher stability value of 35.08 KN for the mixture having 30% PSSA as optimum filler content in comparison with conventional mix which was 34.7 kN and standard specification of 34 kN minimum. This study has therefore established the feasibility of using PSSA as alternative filler instead of the conventional in asphalt concrete mix by satisfying the standard specification. Also making the reuse of agricultural waste possible, thereby making construction cost cheaper, and also reducing waste.

Assessment of engineering and environmental suitability of waste bituminous concrete containing waste biomass ash

This work presents a novel approach to utilize waste wood ash (WA) generated from incineration of fuelwood as filler in bituminous concrete mixes. The bituminous mixes containing WA was designed as per Marshall mix design, and their engineering properties were compared with the mixes containing hydrated lime (HL) at equal mass proportions ranging from 4–7%. The performance of bituminous mixes was compared using methods like static creep test, indirect tensile strength test, Cantabro test, retained Marshall stability test, active and passive analysis. The economic and environmental feasibility of both types of mixes were also analyzed by comparing their cost and greenhouse gas emission. Additionally, the mastics containing b oth fillers at the filler-binder ratio in the range of 0.6–1.2 were prepared and their viscoelastic properties, as well as rutting (after short-term ageing) and fatigue (after long term ageing) resistance, were analyzed using multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) and linear amplitude sweep (LAS) tests respectively. Mastics containing WA displayed higher fatigue life and marginally lower rutting resistance than HL mastics. Irrespective of the type of filler, rutting, and cracking resistance of both bituminous mixes were found to increase with the quantity of filler. At optimum filler content, WA mixes exhibited 10, 30, and 41% lower moisture, cracking, and raveling resistance than conventional HL mixes. However, WA mixes also consumed relatively lower optimum binder content and found to be 7% more cost-effective and 62% more environmentally friendly than HL mixes. The overall conclusions of this study ascertain the utility of WA as an alternative filler in bituminous concrete.

The Effect of Spent Fluid Catalytic Cracking Filler on Performance Testing of Asphalt Concrete Mixture

The spent fluid catalytic cracking (SFCC), waste from the petroleum industry, is nonstop increasing and causing environmental pollution in Vietnam. This study is an attempt to recycle SFCC in pavement construction. The study investigated the effect of SFCC, as a filler material in the hot‐mix asphalt (HMA), on the essential characteristics of the asphalt concrete mix. First, the optimum percentages of bitumen and SFCC rate were investigated based on the Marshall design method. The HMA with SFCC showed more enhanced stability, flow, and other Marshall properties than the asphalt concrete mixture with the optimum limestone filler of 5%. Besides, the effects of SFCC rates on Marshall characteristics were explored. Second, performance tests were conducted to compare the mix with the different optimum content fillers of SFCC, limestone, and Portland cement. The tests include wheel tracking, indirect tensile, fatigue, and dynamic modulus tests to evaluate the performance of HMA with SFCC. It was found that the asphalt mixture with the optimum SFCC filler content can enhance pavement performance and improve the rutting and cracking resistance of the asphalt pavement.

Use of GRP Pipe Waste Powder as a Filler Replacement in Hot-Mix Asphalt.

There is an increasing global trend to find sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials as an alternative to limited natural raw materials. Similarly, the use of waste materials has been gaining popularity in the production of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). In this study, the sustainable use of glass-fiber-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipe waste powder (GRP-WP), gathered from the cutting and milling process of GRP pipe production, utilizing it in asphalt mixes as a filler, is evaluated based on lab testing to find out: (i) if it produces similar or better performance compared to the most conventionally available filler material (limestone) and, (ii) if so, what would be the optimum GRP-WP filler content to be used in asphalt mixes. For this reason, an experimental test matrix consisting of 45 samples with three different amounts of binder content (4%, 4.5% and 5.0%), and a 5% filler content with five different percentages of the GRP-WP content (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement by weight of the filler), was prepared to figure out which sample would produce the similar Marshall stability and flow values compared to the control samples while also satisfying specification limits. It was found that the samples with 4.5% binder content, 3.75% GRP-WP and 1.25% limestone filler content produced the results both satisfying the specification requirements and providing an optimum mix design. It is believed that use of GRP-WP waste in HMA production would be a very useful way of recycling GRP-WP.

Effects of attapulgite on the worn surface and fretting wear resistance property of UHMWPE composites

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the fretting wear property of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites reinforced by different content of attapulgite.Design/methodology/approachA series of composites were prepared by a hot-pressing method. Fretting tests were carried out using an SRV-IV oscillating reciprocating friction wear tester with a load of 10 N and a frequency of 100 Hz. The morphology of the fracture structure and the worn surface was observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and a non-contact three dimensional surface profiler.FindingsWith the addition of attapulgite, the microstructure of the composites become more regular, and their heat resistance improved. Furthermore, the friction coefficient and the specific wear rate of the composites with lower filler content reduced compared with that of neat UHMWPE, and the optimum filler content is 1 per cent.Originality/valueThe study investigated the fretting resistance mechanism of the attapulgite in the UHMWPE matrix. The results could help to provide some experimental evidence for the broader application of silicates on the fretting wear resistance of polymers.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0420/