Effects of an addition of coir-pith particles on the mechanical properties and erosive-wear behavior of a wood-dust-particle-reinforced phenol formaldehyde composite

Abstract

Several attempts were made to investigate the effects of various process parameters on the mechanical properties and wear behavior of synthetic and natural cellulosic fibers and also particle-reinforced polymer composites. However, very few studies were carried out on the effects of various process parameters on the mechanical and wear behavior of phenol formaldehyde (PF) composites reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers and particles. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to observe the effects of various process parameters on the mechanical and wear behavior of wood-dust (WD) and coir-pith (CP) particle-reinforced resole-type PF composites. First, the mechanical properties of a WD/PF composite were studied based on the content of CP particles. Then, the erosive-wear behavior of the WD/PF composite was studied with respect to five different parameters such particle content, erodent size, impact velocity, impingement angle, and standoff distance. The erosive experiments were carried out for five different parameters based on the Taguchi experimental design (L27). The results show that the mechanical properties of the WD/PF composite increase with an addition of CP particles. The increment in the composite modulus was higher than that of the composite strength. The erosive test results indicate that the erosion-wear rate is affected by the particle content, impingement angle, erodent size and impact velocity. Brittle-erosion behavior was identified on the surface of the composite with a heavy erosive wear occurring at a 60° impingement angle.