Title: Effect of short glass fibre and fillers on friction and wear performance of multi-phased thermoplastic copolyester elastomer composites

Authors: R. Hemanth; B. Suresha; M. Sekar

Addresses: Government Tool Room and Training Centre, Bangalore – 560 010, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore – 570 008, India ' School of Mechanical Science, Karunya University, Coimbatore – 641 114, India

Abstract: The friction and wear performance of multi-phased thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TCE) composites were studied, using a pin-on-disc (POD) apparatus. The TCE reinforced with short glass fibre (SGF) and filled with various fillers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), short carbon fibre (SCF), silicon carbide (SiC), micro/nano alumina (m-Al₂O₃/n-Al₂O₃), molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) were slid against a steel counterface. The specific wear rate (K_s) and coefficient of friction (µ) of multi-phased TCE composites were studied for a constant applied load of 40 N. Further, influence of various sliding velocity (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 m/s) and sliding distance (2000, 4000 and 6000 m) on K_s and µ were discussed. Multi-phased TCE composite with SGF, PTFE, SCF, SiC, m-Al₂O₃ and MoS₂ demonstrated lower K_s, but TCE with SGF, PTFE, SCF, SiC, n-Al₂O₃ and PFPE exhibited lower µ in the study group. Multi-phase composites reinforced with fibre and various fillers (micro and nanosized) were found to be beneficial in enhancing the friction and wear performance of neat TCE. Further, increase in sliding velocity resulted in increase in K_s and µ, however decrease in K_s and µ was found with increase in sliding distance. Worn surface morphology of multi-phased TCE composites were analysed with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images to understand the probable wear mechanisms involved in dry sliding wear process.

Keywords: multi-phased composite; SGF; short glass fibre; micro/nano fillers; specific wear rate; coefficient of friction; wear mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2017.086773

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2017 Vol.14 No.9/10/11, pp.893 - 906

Published online: 24 Sep 2017 *

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