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. 2023 Jun 19;15(12):2733.
doi: 10.3390/polym15122733.

Tribo-Mechanical Investigation of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites under Dry Conditions

Corina Birleanu  1 , Marius Pustan  1 , Mircea Cioaza  1 , Paul Bere  2 , Glad Contiu  2 , Mircea Cristian Dudescu  3 , Daniel Filip  4
Affiliations

Tribo-Mechanical Investigation of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites under Dry Conditions

Corina Birleanu et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Tribo-mechanical experiments were performed on Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GRFP) composites against different engineering materials, and the tribological behavior of these materials under dry conditions was investigated. The novelty of this study consists of the investigation of the tribomechanical properties of a customized GFRP/epoxy composite, different from those identified in the literature. The investigated material in the work is composed of 270 g/m2 fiberglass twill fabric/epoxy matrix. It was manufactured by the vacuum bag method and autoclave curing procedure. The goal was to define the tribo-mechanical characteristics of a 68.5% weight fraction ratio (wf) of GFRP composites in relation to the different categories of plastic materials, alloyed steel, and technical ceramics. The properties of the material, including ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus of elasticity, elastic strain, and impact strength of the GFPR, were determined through standard tests. The friction coefficients were obtained using a modified pin-on-disc tribometer using sliding speeds ranging from 0.1 to 0.36 m s-1, load 20 N, and different counter face balls from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyamide (Torlon), 52,100 Chrome Alloy Steel, 440 Stainless Steel, and Ceramic Al2O3, with 12.7 mm in diameter, in dry conditions. These are commonly used as ball and roller bearings in industry and for a variety of automotive applications. To evaluate the wear mechanisms, the worm surfaces were examined and investigated by a Nano Focus-Optical 3D Microscopy, which uses cutting-edge μsurf technology to provide highly accurate 3D measurements of surfaces. The obtained results constitute an important database for the tribo-mechanical behavior of this engineering GFRP composite material.

Keywords: GFRP/epoxy; dry abrasion wear; friction coefficient COF; sliding velocity; tribology properties; vacuum bag technology; wear rate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Autoclave curing procedure of GFRP samples.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maroso autoclave.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Glass fiber composite specimen (disc).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a). Stress–strain curves for flexural tests; (b) Stress–strain curves for tensile tests.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a). Stress–strain curves for flexural tests; (b) Stress–strain curves for tensile tests.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Hardness measurement.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Bearing balls (12.7 mm diameter).
Figure 7
Figure 7
A modified pin-on-disc tribometer.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Pin-on-disc tribometer scheme (wear track model).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Model for calculating wear track volume: (a) on the disc; (b) on the ball.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against PTFE versus peripheral speed at test time (60 min).
Figure 11
Figure 11
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against Torlon versus peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 12
Figure 12
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against 52,100 Chrome Alloy Steel versus peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 13
Figure 13
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against 440 Stainless Steel versus peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 14
Figure 14
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against Al2O3 versus peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 15
Figure 15
(a) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, duration 120 min, (b) Wear surface profile curve for disc (c) Wear marks of PTFE ball for different sliding speeds.
Figure 16
Figure 16
(a) The worn surface morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, duration 120 min; (b) Wear surface profile curve for disc; (c) Wear marks of Torlon ball for different sliding speeds.
Figure 17
Figure 17
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Chrome alloy steel ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 17
Figure 17
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Chrome alloy steel ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Wear marks of Chrome alloy steel ball for different sliding speeds.
Figure 19
Figure 19
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Stainless steel ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 19
Figure 19
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Stainless steel ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Wear marks of 440 stainless steel balls for different sliding speeds.
Figure 21
Figure 21
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Al2O3 ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 21
Figure 21
(a1–a3) The worn surfaces morphologies of GFRP after friction experiment dry lubricated under Fn = 20 N, three sliding speeds, duration 120 min, Al2O3 ball contact; (b1–b3) Wear surface profile curve for disc in the same conditions.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Wear marks of Al2O3 ball.
Figure 23
Figure 23
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against five types of balls versus 0.36 m s−1 peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 24
Figure 24
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against five types of balls versus 0.25 m s−1 peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 25
Figure 25
The variation of friction coefficient of GFRP composite against five types of balls versus 0.10 m s−1 peripheral speed at test time (120 min).
Figure 26
Figure 26
Wear rate K for GFRP discs for peripheral speeds at test time (120 min).
Figure 27
Figure 27
Wear rate K for balls for peripheral speeds at test time (120 min).
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