The Effect of S-Glassfibre Loading Tribology of Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The effect of S-glassfibre loading on the tribology of epoxy composite was premeditated.   Different concentrations of E-glassfiber were used to reinforce epoxy material. Epoxy/S-glass composite with glassfibre contents 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 wt % were fabricated. The fabrications were performed with hand layout method using open mould. The wear properties of the composites were characterized using abrasion wear resistance testing machine manufactured by Taber Industries. ASTM D 958 method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study the impact glassfibre concentrations and distributions on the tribology of the composites fabricated. It was found that S-glassfibre addition improves the wear resistant property epoxy material. As the concentrations of glassfibre increased, the wear resistant property of the composites also improves, until the saturation point was reached i.e. 40:60 wt percentage contents of glassfibre and epoxy. The composites with glassfibre content beyond 40-wt percentage pose smaller or reduced wear resistant property. Composite F with 40:60 wt percentage epoxy to S-glassfibre is the best wear resistant composite with wear value of 4.41 wt % and improvement of 65 % when compared to the control sample A. Furthermore, SEM images show that the more the addition of S-glassfibre into the epoxy matrix, the better the wear resistant values of the composites until saturation points and after which, the wear resistant values begins to diminish due to poor interface between the matrix and the reinforcements.