Comparative Tribological and Mechanical Property Analysis of Nano-Silica and Nano-Rubber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract:

Nano-filler reinforced epoxy composites has been investigated in this study subjected to various mechanical and pin-on-disk tribological tests. Two different types of nano-filler were used namely, rigid nano-silica (SiO₂) particles and soft nano-rubber particles. Incorporation of nano-filler in polymer matrix enhance mechanical properties. In addition, tribological response of composites are also better compared to neat epoxy polymer. However, the effect of nano-silica addition is much more pronounced than that of nano-rubber due to the high rigidity of nano-silica reinforced epoxy composite. This was mainly attributed to transfer film layer (TFL) formation. The TFL was further investigated by electron microscope and nanoindentor. The best set of tribological properties was achieved at 8 wt. % nano-silica addition. This was due to better reinforcement dispersion and continuous transfer film layer formation which eventually control the overall friction and wear mechanism.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 875)
• Pages: 53-60
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.875.53
• Online since: January 2018
• Authors: Abdulaziz Kurdi, Li Chang*
• Keywords: Nanorubber, Nanosilica, Transfer Film Layer, Tribology

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