Dynamic mechanical analysis and three-body wear of carbon–epoxy composite filled with SiC particles

Abstract

The changes that can occur in particulate filled and carbon fabric reinforced epoxy polymer matrix (carbon–epoxy) composites with aging (temperature change) can affect its application, performance, and life time. Fiber and particulate-reinforced composites are known to posses the high strength and attractive wear resistance in dry siding conditions. Though reinforcement and/filler type are known to control the properties, less is known about their abrasive wear performance especially with SiC particulates. How these composites performed in abrasive wear situation needs a proper understanding. Hence in this investigation, reports on dynamic mechanical and three-body abrasive wear behavior of carbon–epoxy and silane-treated SiC particulates filled carbon-epoxy composites. The dynamic mechanical analysis test were conducted using DMA Q800 instrument and abrasive wear tests were conducted using the Rubber wheel abrasive wear tester. From the dynamic mechanical analysis result, it was found that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of 10% SiC-filled carbon–epoxy composite was changed up to maximum 75°C, compared with that of unfilled carbon–epoxy composite. This change in T_g was believed to be due to the interface modification in SiC-filled carbon–epoxy composite. Three-body abrasive wear test results showed that the wear volume loss increased with increasing abrading distance and specific wear rate decreased with abrading distance/load and depends on SiC filler loading. However, the presence of silane-treated SiC in carbon–epoxy showed a promising trend. The worn surface features, when examined through scanning electron microscopy, showed differing trends for unfilled and SiC-filled carbon–epoxy composites.