R. Arun Ramnath’s research while affiliated with PSG College of Technology and other places

This research work investigates the tribological characteristics of Abutilon Indicum Fiber (AIF) reinforced composites with epoxy as the binding agent. The Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced composites were manufactured by compression molding technique. These composites were fabricated by varying the fiber volume fraction ranging from 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively and considering the fiber length as a fixed factor due to its short length. This research paper illustrates the effects of different fiber volume fractions (5,10,15 and 20%) on the tribological properties such as Specific wear rate (SWR) and Coefficient of friction (µ) of Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced composites. Sliding wear tests were carried out under dry environment conditions with pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The experiments were performed for each composite with different combinations of testing parameters, sliding loads (10, 20 and 30 N); sliding distances (1,2 and 3 km); sliding speeds (1,2 and 3 m/s). Shore D hardness of 78.22 is determined to be higher for 15% volume fraction of AIF composites. Results conclude that the addition of AIFs in these composites enhanced the tribological performance with good wear resistance in relation with the pure epoxy-based composites with 15% volume fraction of AIFs displaying best results with higher resistance to wear at various operating conditions. Composites produced with 20% volume fraction displays the effects of fiber agglomeration which in turn has an inverse effect on hardness; limits the wear resistance with higher friction and wear rate and such results agree well with the wear debris, pits and contact patches in micrographs. Optimal fiber volume fraction of 15% was suggested in fabrication of composites for usage of AIFs as friction material.

This research work investigates the tribological characteristics of Abutilon Indicum Fiber (AIF) reinforced composites with epoxy as the binding agent. The Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced tribo-composites were manufactured by compression molding technique. These composites were fabricated by varying the fiber volume fraction ranging from 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively and considering the fiber length as a fixed factor due to its short length. This research paper illustrates the effects of different fiber volume fractions (5,10,15 and 20%) on the tribological properties such as Specific wear rate (SWR) and Coefficient of friction (µ) of Abutilon Indicum fiber reinforced composites. Sliding wear tests were carried out under dry environment conditions with pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The experiments were performed for each tribo-composites with different combinations of testing parameters, sliding loads in the range of (10, 20 and 30 N); sliding distances (1,2 and 3 km); sliding speeds (1,2 and 3 m/s). Shore D hardness of these composites was determined. Results conclude that the addition of AIFs in these tribo-composites enhanced the tribological performance with good wear resistance in relation with the pure epoxy-based composites. Specifically, composites produced with 15% volume fraction of AIFs displayed best results with higher resistance to wear at various operating conditions. Optimal fiber volume fraction of 15% was suggested in fabrication of composites for usage of AIFs as friction material and for other commercial applications. Additionally, the surface texture of these different tested composites was analysed by scanning electron microscopic images to examine the wear patterns and mechanism.

Polymers and their composites are playing major roles in various industrial usages where friction and wear are major issues. The friction and wear behavior of fiber-reinforced composites depends on the production as well as the functional and ecological parameters. The particular type of fiber material employed in fabrication also plays a critical role on these properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) discovered earlier have found wide applications in different fields due to their excellent properties. CNTs have very good material strength and higher modulus and are used as wearable materials in many tribological applications. From the existing literature, it was found that composite materials with CNTs used as reinforcing materials have a stable frictional coefficient with a lower wear rate. In this chapter, the wear and friction properties of CNT-reinforced composites are discussed in detail.