WEAR RESISTANCE PROPERTIES OF EPOXY ALUMINIUM MICROPARTICLE COMPOSITE

Present priority of light materials for enhancing automobile safety and fuel efficiency creates a premise for developing new materials with optimum combination of lightness and better or comparative properties to replace existing heavy alloys for transportation applications. Previous authors' study reveals development of epoxy aluminium composite with investigation of mechanical properties and its targeted application as an automobile bumper but the wear resistance of the composite has not been reported. This study investigates wear resistance properties of epoxy containing 10% by weight of aluminium microparticles. The composite was produced from epoxy resin (MAX 1618 A) cured with hardener (MAX 1618 B) at 2:1 volume mix ratio through in-situ polymerisation. Firstly, wear rates (volume loss per unit time) were measured as a function of the applied load. Then, the wear rates (mass loss per sliding distance) were examined as a function of the applied load, velocity and % weight of aluminium particles. Worn-out surfaces of examined samples were tracked morphologically. Result obtained indicated that the applied load, sliding speed and percentage by weight are all significant factors influencing the wear resistance of the epoxy composites with the model, P value of 0.049≤0.05. The sliding velocity of β value = 0.011 contributed to increase in the wear rate than the applied load having lower β value (0.001). Addition of aluminium particles (β value = -0.003) to the epoxy lowered the wear rate. This implies that an increase in the wt% of aluminium particle added to the epoxy enhances the wear resistance of the composites. SEM study affirms the wear mechanism by crack nucleation which is characterised with continual propagation, deflection and pining. A greater damage observed on the surface of epoxy polymer justifies its higher wear rates in comparison with those of the composite.