MACROMECHANISM FOR SLURRY ABRASION OF SHORT-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYESTER COMPOSITE

A theoretical model to estimate the wear loss behaviour and erosive me chanism of polymer composites has been developed. Fibre reinforced pol yester composites subjected to sea water erosive environment through a slurry of hard, angular sand particles, NaCl and water have been test ed in a slurry pot erosion tester for different time intervals. Eroded surfaces of the composites have been examined on a scanning electron microscope. A comparison of experimental and calculated values for ero sive wear loss of fibre reinforced polyester composites has also been made.