Two-Body Abrasion of Bamboo Fibre/Epoxy Composites

Abstract

In this chapter, a new polymeric composite was developed. Bamboo fibre reinforced epoxy (BFRE) was build using unidirectional configuration and hand lay-up techniques. The bamboo fibres were treated with 6 % NaOH to improve their interfacial adhesion as recommended by the literature. The tribological performance of the new composites was investigated in terms of two-body abrasion considering different sliding distances and applied loads. Normal orientation of the fibre onto the counterface is considered in this study. For comparison purposes, neat epoxy and epoxy composites based on glass fibres were tested as well under the same conditions. Different grades of SiC papers were used in this study and optical microscopy assisted to observe the abrasive papers and the worn surfaces of the samples after the tests. The results revealed that the wear rate of the BFRE composites is very competitive to the glass fibre/epoxy composites and the neat epoxy as well at all the grades of the SiC papers. The grade of SiC papers significantly influenced the wear and frictional behaviour of the composites since the low grade exhibited higher wear rate and high friction coefficient due to the intimate contact of the asperities (interlocking process during the rubbing). Optical microscopy and SEM micrographs showed different damage features on the worn surfaces such as ploughing, grooving, scratching which represented the abrasive wear. SiC papers were either covered by patches of the soft part (epoxy or its composites) or contained loss debris from the soft parts.