Effects of load and sliding velocity on abrasive wear of Lantana camara fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite

Abstract

In this study, the abrasive wear behaviour of a locally available Lantana camara fibre (LCF)-reinforced epoxy composite was investigated. The wear behaviour was studied using a pin-on-disc apparatus against 400 grit size abrasive paper. All the tests were carried out at room temperature under 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 N normal loads and three sliding velocities (0.157, 0.314, and 0.47 m/s). The effect of fibre content, normal load, and sliding velocity on the abrasive wear properties of composites was investigated. The results show that the wear behaviour of pure epoxy improved considerably with the incorporation of LCF. It is also found that the abrasive wear of the composite is more sensitive to normal load than the sliding velocity. The maximum wear reduction for the composite was obtained for 40 wt% fibre content. The worn surface morphologies were examined by a scanning electron microscope and the wear mechanism was also discussed.