Surface Modification of Carbon Fiber and Its Effects on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of the Polyurethane Composites

To improve the friction and wear behavior of the polyurethane composites, carbon fibers were modified with 2, 4-diisocyanatotoluene. The mechanical and tribological properties of the reinforced polyurethane composites were studied. Tensile strength of the composites increased with the addition of carbon fibers. The friction and wear experiments were tested on a MRH-3 model ring-on-block test rig at different sliding speeds and loads under dry sliding. Experimental results revealed that carbon fibers with chemical treatment contributed to largely improve the tribological properties of the polyurethane composites. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigations showed that the worn surface of the modified polyurethane composite was smoother than pure polyurethane under given load and sliding speed. POLYM. COMPOS., 32:1726-1733, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers