The effect of dimple size on the tribological performances of a laser surface textured palm kernel activated carbon-epoxy composite

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of dimple size on the tribological performances of laser surface-textured palm kernel-activated carbon-epoxy (PKAC-E) composite. Design/methodology/approach A PKAC-E disc 74 mm in diameter was fabricated using the hot compression moulding technique. Five different types of surface contacts were prepared using a CO2 laser surface-texturing machine: a non-textured surface, and surfaces with dimples between 500 and 1,200 μm in diameter. The area density, contact ratio and depth were kept constant. A sliding test was carried out using a ball-on-disc tribometer under boundary lubricated conditions with constant sliding speed, sliding distance and applied load. Findings In general, the results showed that the friction coefficient decreased with an increasing dimple diameter of surface-textured PKAC-E composite. However, the appropriate dimple diameter for maintaining low friction coefficient is proposed in the range of 800 to 1,000 μm. Originality/value This is the first study, to the authors’ knowledge, to investigate the effects of dimple size, which is larger than 500 μm, on the tribological performances of laser surface-textured PKAC-E composite.