Wear‐Mode‐Dependent Tribological Performance of Glass Fiber‐Reinforced Epoxy Composites Modified With Graphene Nanoplatelets

ABSTRACT Glass fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites are widely used in structural applications where surface durability under different wear conditions is critical. In this study, the tribological performance of ±45° biaxial glass fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites modified with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was experimentally investigated under two fundamentally different wear modes: dry sliding wear and solid particle erosion. Dry sliding tests were conducted using a block‐on‐ring configuration, while erosion behavior was evaluated at impingement angles ranging from 15° to 90°. The results show that GNP modification significantly influences the wear response depending on the prevailing wear mechanism. Under dry sliding conditions, GNP‐containing composites exhibited reduced specific wear rate and a more stable coefficient of friction due to improved load transfer and the formation of a protective transfer film. In solid particle erosion, particle‐impact‐dominated damage mechanisms resulted in a different sensitivity to GNP addition, leading to reduced material loss, particularly at intermediate impingement angles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed that GNP incorporation modifies surface morphology and suppresses damage evolution, leading to a more stable wear response. Surface roughness measurements also indicated a more homogeneous initial surface condition in GNP‐modified composites. The findings indicate a wear‐mode‐dependent contribution of GNPs to the tribological performance of glass fiber/epoxy composites under both dry sliding and solid particle erosion conditions.