Role of zirconia filler on friction and dry sliding wear behaviour of bismaleimide nanocomposites

• Published in: Materials in engineering Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 2644 - 2649
• Main Authors: Kurahatti, R.V., Surendranathan, A.O., Srivastava, S., Singh, N., Ramesh Kumar, A.V., Suresha, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2011
• Subjects: A. Nanomaterials; Bismaleimides; Drying; E. Wear; Friction; Frictional wear; G. Scanning electron microscopy; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Sliding friction; A. Nanomaterials; G. Scanning electron microscopy; E. Wear
• ISSN: 0261-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2011.01.030

► Nano-ZrO2 filled BMI composites were prepared using high shear mixer. ► Tests include microhardness and friction and dry sliding wear. ► Incorporation of nano-ZrO2 displayed higher hardness compared to the BMI matrix. ► Experimental results include frictional coefficient and specific wear rate. ► Results have been supplemented with scanning electron micrographs. This paper discusses the friction and dry sliding wear behaviour of nano-zirconia (nano-ZrO 2) filled bismleimide (BMI) composites. Nano-ZrO 2 filled BMI composites, containing 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 wt.% were prepared using high shear mixer. The influence of these particles on the microhardness, friction and dry sliding wear behaviour were measured with microhardness tester and pin-on-disc wear apparatus. The experimental results indicated that the frictional coefficient and specific wear rate of BMI can be reduced at rather low concentration of nano-ZrO 2. The lowest specific wear rate of 4 × 10 −6 mm 3/Nm was observed for 5 wt.% nano-ZrO 2 filled composite which is decreased by 78% as compared to the neat BMI. The incorporation of nano-ZrO 2 particles leads to an increased hardness of BMI and wear performance of the composites shows good correlation with the hardness up to 5 wt.% of filler loading. The results have been supplemented with scanning electron micrographs to help understand the possible wear mechanisms.