Two Body Wear Characteristics of Polyalthia Longifolia/Mangifera Indica/Jute Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites using Taguchi Technique

Abstract

This research work investigates the two body wear behavior of natural fiber reinforced composites using a pin on disc test set-up. Natural fibers such as Polyalthia Longifolia, Mangifera Indica and Jute were used as reinforcements with epoxy matrix. Four types of composites with 30% fiber weight fraction were fabricated using hand layup and compression molding technique. Taguchi experimental design with L₁₆ orthogonal array was considered. Four factors viz. fiber type, normal load, sliding speed and sliding distance at four levels were analyzed for obtaining minimum specific wear rate. Normal load was the most significant factor influencing the response with percentage contribution of 56.21% while the least contribution was the factor sliding speed (2.30%). Based on the optimum combination, confirmation experiments were conducted, the results of which were obtained with a minimal error of 4.64%. Micrographs revealed different wear mechanisms like fiber-matrix de-bonding, fiber pull-out, matrix cracking, furrows and crater formation.

Keywords:
Polyalthia Longifolia; Mangifera Indica; Jute; Epoxy; Taguchi; Sliding wear; Scanning Electron Microscopy