Wear mechanisms in polymer matrix composites abraded by bulk solids

An experimental study of the wear of polymer matrix composite materials sub jected to abrasion from bulk materials has been conducted. Three examples o f vinyl ester resin systems were considered: (a) unreinforced, (b) reinforc ed with glass fibres, and (c) reinforced with particles of ultra high molec ular weight polyethylene (UHWMPE). Soft and hard bulk materials used for ab rasion were granular forms of coal and the mineral ignimbrite. The bulk mat erial was presented to the wear surface on a conveyor belt in a novel wear tester. While UHWMPE reinforcement enhanced the wear resistance to both har d and soft abrasives, the situation for fibre reinforcement was more compli cated. With coal as the abrasive, it was found that glass fibre reinforceme nt reduced the wear rate, whereas in the case of the harder ignimbrite, fib re reinforcement increased the wear rate. Microscopy indicated significant differences in the mechanism of wear in each surface/abrasive combination. Wear textures, consistent with both two and three-body wear, were observed with, respectively, soft and hard abrasive particles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence S.A. All rights reserved.