SiC_p/glass fibers reinforced epoxy composites: Wear and erosion behavior

Abstract

Glass fibers reinforced polymer composite materials are widely used in shipping and aerospace industries due to their superior mechanical and chemical properties. In these applications, materials are subjected to surface abrasion due to constant abrasive particle slurry interactions with the composites. This constant interaction of composites with abrasive particle slurry diminishes the composite strength and leads to unwanted as well as premature failure. Keeping these drawbacks in consideration, the present investigation attempts at analyzing erosive and wear characteristics of developed epoxy composites. The developed composites have been reinforced with glass fibers as primary reinforcement and silicon carbide particulates as secondary reinforcement. The erosion behavior of developed composites were analyzed at various process parameters such as impingement angles, slurry pressure, and standoff distance using natural sand particles as erodent. Wear characteristics of composites were analyzed on a pin on disk wear test apparatus at variable load, sliding velocity and abrasive surface. From the experimental results, a mathematical model has been developed to predict the expected life of developed composite against abrasive wear and solid particle erosion. The worn and eroded surfaces of composites were examined using scanning electron microscopy to explore the wear and erosion mechanism.