THE EFFECT OF ADDING ALUMINA AND GRAPHITE PARTICLES TO IMPROVE THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITES
Abstract
This research aim to study the effect of adding alumina and graphite particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of composite material based on an epoxy resins. The epoxy matrix was reinforced with (10-40) (wt %) of alumina particles to improve its mechanical and tribological properties. Measurement of density, friction compressive strength and hardness revealed that the properties of the prepared composite were enhanced by the addition of the alumina particles. These improvements in the physical and mechanical properties lead to decrease the coefficient of friction, which is the tribological property we were aiming to decrease. (20%) alumina was found the best. In order to enhance the friction property of the composite, some (wt %) of graphite powder was added to 20wt % alumina-epoxy composite. In fact this was the case; the coefficient of friction was decrease further more, and also the other physical and mechanical properties except hardness (which is considered as a surface property) giving a possibility of using the prepared composite in many different applications.
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