Tribological Characteristics of Silicon Carbide – Epoxy Nanocomposites

Abstract

The applications of polymer nanocomposites have been increased in fast, in technologicalapplications and engineering materials for seal and sliding components in many machines,devices, tools and variance vehicles. In this research friction and wear coefficients of epoxyreinforced by nanoparticles silicon carbide in terms of variance volume fractions have beentested. Mechanical – layup method with ultrasonic technique for the dispersion of thenanoparticles within the polymer matrix are used. Wear and friction coefficient tests are createdout using pin -on-disc technique. The results showed significant improvement in wear resistanceand low coefficient of friction for 10 vol. % nanocomposites compared with the matrix alone. Itcan be concluded from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results before and after the tests thatthe wear was transformed from the severe to the moderate.