EFFECT OF FILLER ADDITION ON THREE-BODY ABRASIVE WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES

Plan of Presentation
Introduction Objective Experimental details Results and Discussion

Conclusions

INTRODUCTION
Composite Materials Metal Matrix Composites Polymer Matrix Composites Ceramic Matrix Composites Engineering Applications Aerospace Automotive Industries Power sector Concrete Industry

Contd
To study the tribological behavior of Nano filler based epoxy nanocomposites. PMC are the most commonly used in mechanical joints that require good surface quality holes for bolts and rivets and various application. Particulate reinforced polymeric composites are known to possess high strength and attractive wear resistance under dry sliding conditions. little is known about their tribo-performance, especially with nano-inorganic fillers.

Objective of Present work

Define wear and the system variables List the major types of wear and distinguishing characteristics Understand a systematic approach to wear failure analysis Prescribe successful material to eliminate or mitigate wear Identify laboratory wear tests in order to optimize the best material

Wear is defined as damage to a solid surface, generally involving progressive loss of material, due to relative motion between contacting surface.

wear

Abrasive Wear

(50%)

Adhesive (8%) Wear

Erosion (15%)

Abrasive Wear
word is "cutting or grinding wear High-stress, low-speed particles or projections cut and plow small grooves in softer material
Plows, cultivators, etc.

Subcategories:
Two-body wear abrasive fixed to surface(s) Three-body wear loose abrasive Low stress - abrasive particles do not fracture High stress particles fracture, new sharp edges

Three body abrasion wear test

It is the method for determining the resistance of materials to scratching abrasion by means of dry sand/rubber wheel test. The test method will rank the materials in their resistance to scratching abrasion under a specific set of condition. Abrasion wear is one were one surface move across a softer surface under load, penetrate and remove material from the softer surface leaving grooves .

 In the present study silica sand was used as abrasive. The particles were angular in shape with sharp edges. The test samples were initially cleaned with acetone and dried, which were later weighed on the digital balance for its initial weight. The tests were conducted at a rotational speed of 200rpm with abrading distances were at 500m & 1000m at load of 24 and 36 N for the set of materials. At the end of the test the specimens were removed and again weighed (final weight). Further wear volume loss and specific wear rate was measured.

Experimental details
Epoxy resin (LY 556) were supplied by Hindustan CibaGeiga, India, is the matrix material in the present investigation.

NanoFillers

Nanocomposite.

Alumina
Physical properties

Epoxy resin
Colorless

Montmorillonite (nanomer 1.28E)

Off white Ivory 10- 50

Carbon Nano Tubes

Black 10-30

Color

Average particle size (m)

1.20 g/cm3 -

810

Bulk density (g/cm3)

Surface area (m2/g) Youngs modulus (GPa)

1.90
750 175

3.2
35 - 45 375

1.7
450-550 1250

Nanocomposites fabrication

Pre-calculated amount of the epoxy resin and nanofillers and curing agent were mixed

After mixing, the mixture was degassed in a vacuum chamber for about 45 min.

The mixture was poured into toughened glass moulds and degassed for 30 min. After degassing, the glass moulds were placed in an oven and the materials were cured at 110 0C for 3 hrs.

Epoxy nanocomposites used in the present study

Composites Neat epoxy 2.5 wt.% oMMT-Epoxy 2.5 wt.% Al2O3-Epoxy 1 wt.% Al2O3-2.5 wt.% oMMT -Epoxy 2.5 wt.% oMMT-2.5 wt.% Al2O3-2.5 wt.% CNT-Epoxy

Designation Ep oMMT-Ep Al2O3-Ep oMMT -1Al2O3- Ep oMMT- Al2O3- CNT-Ep

Schematic diagram of a dry sand rubber wheel abrasion tester.

Scanning electron micrograph of silica sand (200-250 m).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Wear volume VS Nanocomposites at different abrading distance 500m and 2000m at 24N load.

Wear volume VS Nanocomposites at different abrading distance 500m and 2000m at 36N load

Specific wear rate VS Nanocomposites at different abrading distance 500m and 2000m at 24N load

Specific wear rate VS Nanocomposites at different abrading distance 500m and 2000m at 36N load.

From the graphs the following conclusion is being drawn: It is clear that for all the nanocomposites used in this study; there is increase in wear volume loss with increase in abrading distance. Nature of wear mechanism for neat Epoxy composite shows high initial wear rates when surface is new, which decrease as the abrading distance increased. Among all the nanocomposites (oMMT-1Al2O3-Ep) & (Al2O3-Ep) shows better result as compare to the other materials. Wear volume for all nanocomposites at 24N load lies in the range 0.04 x 103 to 0.16 x103 and at 36N load lies in the range 0.09 x 103 to 0.38 x 103 for two different abrading distances i.e. at 500 and 1000m respectively. specific wear rate for all nanocomposites at 24N and different abrading distance varies between 0.31x10-11 and 0.37x10-11 m3/N m and at 36N load and different abrading distance varies between 0.44 x10-11 and 0.64 x 10-11 m3/N m.

worn surface features under abrasive wear

SEM pictures of worn surface of Ep at 36N and at different abrading distances i.e 1(a) 500m and (b) 2000m.

Contd

SEM pictures of worn surface of oMMT-Ep at 36N and at different abrading distances i.e. 2(a) 500m and 2(b) 2000m

Contd

SEM pictures of worn surface of Al2O3-Ep at 36N and at different abrading distances i.e 3(a) 500m and 3(b) 2000m.

Contd

pictures of worn surface of oMMT- Al2O3-Ep at 36N and at different abrading distances i.e 4(a) 500m and 4(b) 2000m

Contd

SEM pictures of worn surface of oMMT- Al2O3- CNT-Ep at 36N and at different abrading distances i.e 5(a) 500m and 5(b) 2000m

Conclusions
Inclusion of nanofillers contributed significantly in exhibiting better wear resistance of epoxy based nanocomposites. The addition of 1 wt. % alumina in oMMT-Ep nanocomposite and alumina based nanocomposite shows better results of wear volume loss with increase in abrading distance as well as load. The highest specific wear rate is for 2.5 % oMMT-Ep nanocomposite compared to other nanocomposite

SEM studies of worn surfaces indicate ploughing, cutting and cracking wear mechanisms under all experimental conditions.
Surface features of the nanocomposites shows relatively high initial wear rate when the surfaces are new, which decreases gradually almost to a constant value with increase in abrading distance.

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