Enhancement of Wear and Friction Characteristics of Epoxy Resin by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Boron Nitride Nanoparticles

Epoxy resins are widely used in engineering applications. However, their low thermal stability limits their usage at high sliding velocities and loads. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of a machine element subjected to friction and wear are very important. In this study, friction and tribology behaviors of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and boron nitride (BN)-modified epoxy resin have been investigated. Epoxy resin modified by three different nanoparticle configurations, 0.3% MWCNT, 0.5% BN, and 0.5% MWCNT/0.3% BN, was investigated. The tribological characteristics of nanoparticle-modified epoxy resin were compared with properties of neat resin. The friction and tribological behavior of modified epoxy resin were tested using a ball-on-disc test stand at 1.2 and 1.5 ms(-1) sliding velocities under 10 N applied load. The tests were done under dry condition and 1,800 m distance. The friction coefficient, wear loss, and temperature increase during testing were recorded and compared with that obtained for neat epoxy. It is observed that nanoparticle modification resulted in enhanced wear resistance and a reduction in friction coefficient and working temperatures.