Tribological Behaviour of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyethersulfone Composites with PTW Filler

In various applications like bearings, gear pairs, and brake pads, understanding how polymer composites interact with harder counterparts during sliding motions is crucial. A challenge arises from the heat generated during sliding friction, which has the potential to raise the contact temperature. This temperature increase, if it exceeds the material's glass transition temperature, can compromise the thermal stability of the composites, leading to rapid material wear. In the present investigation, dry sliding wear test was performed on 25 wt. % of short carbon fiber (SCF) reinforced polyethersulfone (PES) composites filled with 2.5 and 5.0 wt. % of potassium titanate whisker (PTW) using pin-on-disc tribometer. Wear test was planned and executed according to the experiment design formulations obtained by central composite design method. Contact temperature at the interface between composite pin and steel disc was monitored with an infrared thermal camera. Wear resistance was found to increase with the addition of fibers and fillers. PTW filled composites exhibited minimum wear with maximum coefficient of friction. Morphology studies were carried out on worn surfaces of the composites using scanning electron microscope to identify and describe the mechanism of wear involved. This investigation sheds light on the intricate behavior of polymer composites during sliding interactions.