The tribological properties of Kevlar pulp reinforced epoxy composites under dry sliding and water lubricated condition

Kevlar pulp reinforced epoxy composites were prepared by compression molding. The friction and wear behavior of Kevlar pulp reinforced epoxy composites against stainless steel under dry sliding and water lubricated conditions was comparatively evaluated on an M-2000 friction and wear tester. The effects of Kevlar pulp content on tribological properties of the composites were investigated. The worn surfaces morphologies of neat epoxy and its composites were observed with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the wear mechanisms were discussed. The results show that the incorporation of Kevlar pulp into epoxy contributed to improve the friction and wear behavior considerably. The optimum wear reduction was obtained when the content of Kevlar pulp is 40 vol.%. Neat epoxy and its composites sliding against stainless steel register lower friction coefficients and wear rates under water lubricated condition than under dry sliding, owing to the boundary lubricating and cooling effect of distilled water. Adherence, plowing and plastic deformation are dominant under dry sliding, and abrasive wear is dominant under water lubricated condition. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.