EFFECTS OF MOISTURE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN FRICTION COMPOSITES

The role of water and other contaminants like salt water, iso-octane, and ethylene glycol on neat resin, composites, and friction materials have been investigated. The maximum solvent uptake and the diffusion c oefficient of the solvent in these systems were determined and the exp erimental data was fitted to a Fickian model. The nature of the diffus ion process was determined in each case and deviations from Fickian be havior were accounted for. For the neat resin and the composites, the diffusion coefficients of the liquids were of the order of 10(-10) cm2 /s. After exposure to these contaminants, mechanical properties of all the systems were determined and a general degradation in properties w as found. The flexural strength and fracture toughness showed reductio n in values while the flexural modulus was not affected.