Erosive wear of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polyetherimide composite

Solid Particle erosion behaviour of polyetherimide (PEI) and unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced PEI (CF/PEI) has been evaluated using silica sand particles (200 +/- 50 mu m) as an erodent at different impact angles (15-90 degrees) and impact velocities (25-66 m/s). The influence of fibre orientation (0 degrees- and 90 degrees-orientation) on erosion rate of CF/PEI composite has also been studied. The neat PEI has exhibited maximum erosion rate at 30 degrees impact angle whereas the CF/PEI composite showed maximum erosion rate at 60 degrees impact angle. The results showed that the fibre orientation has a significant influence on erosion rate at oblique impact angles. The erosion rate is higher in the case of 90 degrees-orientation than that of W-orientation of fibres. The eroded surfaces were observed under scanning electron microscope to understand the erosion mechanisms. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.