ABSTRACT
The present work investigates the friction coefficient and wear of polyester composites reinforced by different types of nanoparticles of iron, copper, aluminum, and aluminum oxide and sliding against steel aiming to develop new engineering materials with low friction coefficient and high wear resistance to be used as bearing materials. Experiments were carried out at oil lubricated sliding. Cylindrical test specimens of 10 mm diameter and 30 mm length of polyester resin impregnated by nanoparticles were tested. Pin on disc tribometer was used to perform friction and wear under the application of electric current of 0, ± 1.5, ± 3 and ± 4.5 volts.
It was found that, for oil lubricated sliding of negative charged test specimens, friction coefficient displayed by sliding of polyester filled by aluminium of negative voltage against steel slightly increased with increasing aluminium content. As the applied voltage increased friction coefficient significantly increased. At no electric voltage, wear slightly decreased with increasing copper content. Application of electric voltage increased wear. As for oil lubricated sliding of positive charged test specimens, friction coefficient showed no change with increasing aluminium content. As the applied voltage increased friction coefficient decreased. Wear increased with increasing both aluminium content and electric voltage. At no electric voltage, wear slightly decreased with increasing copper content. Application of electric voltage increased wear due to the increased adherence of the material removed from the the tested composites into steel. At no voltage wear increased with increasing aluminium oxide content. Application of electric voltage caused significant friction decrease.