This paper investigates erosive wear properties of carbon-epoxy polymer composites. Hand layup technique was employed to fabricate the composite specimens. Sand erosion properties of carbon/epoxy polymer composites were examined by changing testing parameters such as varying angle of impact (300,450,600 and 900), velocity of impact of sand particles (48m/s and 70m/s) and Stand-Off distance (5mm and10mm); and also by changing composite processing parameters such as fiber volume (20%, 25%, and 30%) and fiber orientation (300,600 and 900). Irrespective of fiber volume and fiber orientation, rate of erosion shows increasing tendency, with increase of impact velocity. It was observed that with increase in fiber volume, erosion rate increases and where fiber orientation is concerned, increase of fiber orientation leads to increase in erosion rate. Irrespective of fiber orientation and fiber volume, Increase of Stand-Off distance leads to decrease in erosion rate. Finally the eroded surface morphology was observed by using SEM.
The present work studies the tribological performance of Tungsten Carbide (WC) nanoparticles reinforced epoxy polymer nanocomposites. Polymer nanocomposites are prepared by hand lay-up method. Erosive wear and hardness tests were conducted to examine the physical and wear properties of epoxy/WC nanocomposites. Addition of WC nanoparticles led to significant reduction in erosion rate. In addition to that, incorporation of WC nanoparticles enhanced the hardness of epoxy nano composites. At 2% weight of WC nano filler, nanocomposites showed better performance in erosion wear properties and also in hardness. While at 3wt% of WC filler, least performance in hardness was caused by the weak adhesive bonding between the matrix and filler. The nature of erosion wear behavior was observed. Finally worn surfaces of nanocomposites were inspected using a “scanning electron microscope (SEM)”.
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