EFFECT OF REINFORCEMENT ON FRICTION AND WEAR OF FABRIC REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES

Sliding friction and wear behaviour of plain weave fabric reinforced p oly(vinyl butyral) modified phenolic resin matrix composites made with three different reinforcing fabric materials, namely E-glass, high st rength carbon and Kevlar-49, were investigated. Tests were performed o n a pin-on-disc apparatus, and the specimens were slid against a cast iron disc under dry sliding conditions. The specific wear rate, coeffi cient of friction and operating wear mechanism, as evinced by scanning electron micrographs of the worn surfaces, changed with fabric materi al. Of the three reinforcing fabric materials, the composite made usin g glass fabric reinforcement exhibited poor wear resistance. Best wear resistance was observed in the Kevlar fabric reinforced composite. Th e wear mechanism was similar in all three composites.