Graphite modified cotton fibre reinforced polyester composites under sliding wear conditions

Graphite modified polyester-cotton composites were developed and studied for friction and sliding wear behaviour at different applied loads and graphite concentrations. Sliding wear tests were conducted using pin-on-disc apparatus. The composite pins were tested against EN-31 steel disc. The specific wear rate of polyester reduced on reinforcement of cotton and on addition of graphite. The coefficient of friction of polyester resin increased on cotton reinforcement and reduced significantly on addition of graphite in cotton-polyester composite. The temperature of contact surface reduced on addition of graphite in cotton-polyester composite. The reduction in wear rate of graphite modified polyester-cotton composite has been discussed with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of worn surfaces, coefficient of friction and the temperature of contact surface. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.