Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Glass-Epoxy Composite

The effect of variations in sliding velocity and applied load on the wear behavior of glass-epoxy composite is studied by measuring the weight changes and observing the surface features using scanning electron microscopy. Sliding velocities and loads in the range 1-5 m/s and 20-60 N respectively were used in the experiments with wear test pin having flat face of the pin in contact with hardened rotating steel disc. The wear loss increases with the increasing applied load and sliding velocities. The scanning pictures show assorted features like tendency for the matrix to adhere towards the fiber, less debris formation, network of cracks, agglomeration of debris and broken fibers depending on the load and velocity employed.