Development of tribological performance for epoxy composites

Abstract EN

The environment of Arab countries suffers from the relatively high concentration of dust in air, due to the lack of rain and the vast area of desert, which reason increase in wear value of sliding parts.

To overcome those severe environmental impacts, it is necessary to develop the materials which can resist the abrasion action of sand.

Epoxy composites, like polymers, suffer from the relatively low wear resistance.

The present research aims to develop epoxy composites to be used as bearing material in different engineering applications.

To enable epoxy resin to be used as bearing material, it is proposed to use solid lubricant, such as molybdenum disulfide and Talc powders as filling material.

Test specimens in a form of a layer of 50 × 50 mm2, with 3 mm thickness adhered into a wooden block.

The tested materials were epoxy filled by different contents of molybdenum disulfide and Talc powders 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 %.

The Friction experimental was carried out at different values of normal load 2, 4, 6 and 8 N.

Test results show that, in presence of 2 N normal loads, the maximum value of friction coefficient was (0.41) observed at pure epoxy specimens.

While minimum values of friction coefficient observed at epoxy specimens contain 5 % Mos2 was (0.1).

This results related to strong bonding between Mos2 and epoxy resin.

The friction coefficient can be decrease for epoxy composite by increasing molybdenum disulfide content.

This behavior related to the good lubricant properties of molybdenum disulfide.

The wear resistance can be increase for epoxy composite by increasing molybdenum disulfide content up to 5%.

The molybdenum disulfide helps specimens to sliding to counter face and decrease bonding between epoxy and steel surface.

The talc show significant reduction of friction coefficient in presence of higher load.

The effect of talc on wear resistance was insignificant because non-homogeneous of talc with epoxy resin.