Tribological Behaviors of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites Under PAO Lubrication Conditions

• Published in: Tribology letters 2016-06, Vol.62 (3), p.1-11, Article 37
• Main Authors: Zhao, Fuyan, Gao, Chuanping, Wang, Honggang, Wang, Tingmei, Wetzel, Bernd, Jim, Bai-Cheng, Zhang, Ga, Wang, Qihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary lubrication; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon fibers; Carbon-epoxy composites; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coefficient of friction; Corrosion and Coatings; Dependence; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Friction; Friction resistance; Linearization; Lubrication; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Polymer matrix composites; Seizing; Seizures; Silicon dioxide; Surfaces and Interfaces; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Thin Films; Tribology; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 1023-8883; 1573-2711
• DOI: 10.1007/s11249-016-0685-8

In order to avoid occurrence of severe seizure of motion components exposed to mixed and boundary lubrication, e.g., in engine and transmission systems, to replace metal–metal friction pairs by polymer–metal pairs provides a potential solution. In the present work, the tribological behaviors of short carbon fiber (SCF)-reinforced epoxy (EP) composites when lubricated with polyalphaolefin base oil were investigated. It was identified that the running-in tendency and friction coefficient of the composites show a close dependence on the lubrication regimes. SCF improves greatly the wear resistance of EP although they increase slightly the friction coefficient. It was demonstrated that further addition of monodispersed SiO 2 nanoparticles into the EP composite filled with SCF and graphite leads to higher wear resistance. The reinforcement of SCF and the formation of a high-performance tribofilm on the surface of steel counterpart play an important role on the tribological properties of EP-based materials.