Influence of Re-adhesion on the Wear and Friction of Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polyester Composites

• Published in: The Journal of adhesion Vol. 82; no. 11; pp. 1033 - 1060
• Main Authors: Quintelier, J., Samyn, P., De Baets, P., Doncker, L. De, Hemelrijck, D. Van, Sol, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.2006; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Friction; Polymer composites; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Re-adhesion; Technology of polymers; Wear; Sliding wear; Unidirectional fiber material; Ester polymer; Fiber reinforced material; Film formation; Wear mechanisms; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Re-adhesion; Polymer composites; Friction; Wear; Fiber orientation; Measurement method; Glass fiber; Pin disk test; Tribology
• ISSN: 0021-8464; 1563-518X; 1545-5823
• DOI: 10.1080/00218460600948453

Based on the well-known pin-on-disc test rig, a new test setup for online measuring of wear and friction behaviour of polymer matrix composites has been developed. In contrast to a traditional friction-and-wear test rig, a steel pin and composite disc are used for studying the influence of wear debris and fibre orientation. During sliding, a thin adhesive film is possibly formed on the wear track of a composite disc, consisting of wear debris that is squeezed under the steel pin and that finally smoothens onto the composite surface. By optical microscopy, it was observed that most of the debris particles originate from the edges of the wear track. The thin film deforms continuously, with large and dark wear particles observed at the edge of the wear track. A lower coefficient of friction is achieved when the particles are re-adhered to the mating surface. The film formation mechanism depends on the normal force, sliding velocity, and bulk composite structure: because pultruded composite profiles are presently used with a layered structure, a change in film properties is observed depending on the wear depth.