Volume 46, No 1, 2024, Pages 66-79

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Mechanical Properties and Analysis of Two-body Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Graphene Modified Carbon/Epoxy Composites Using Taguchi’s Technique

Authors:

Anupama Shivamurthy , Rakshith Boranna ,
Raviprasad Kogravalli Jagannat ,
Gurusiddappa R. Prashanth , Suresha Bheemappa , S.M. Darshan

DOI: 10.24874/ti.1512.07.23.09

Received: : 5 July 2023
Revised: 19 August 2023
Accepted: 7 September 2023
Published: 15 March 2024

Abstract:

The present work emphasizes the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (G) filler loading on mechanical and abrasive wear behavior of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy (C/E) composites. Graphene nanoplatelets were mixed with epoxy framework using a temperature-controlled magnetic stirrer and then ultrasonically treated. The parameters considered for the abrasive wear study are the applied load in N (5, 10 and 15), abrading distance in m (75, 150, and 225) and weight percentage of reinforcement (0, 1, and 1.5). The incorporation of 1 wt. % G into C/E composites increases hardness by 14 % and interlaminar laminar strength by 19 % when compared to C/E composites. According to the Taguchi design of tests, a filler loading of 1 wt. % G, an abrading distance of 225 m, and an applied load of 15 N are ideal. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to establish the dominant parameter, and the filler loading with abrading distance was shown to be significant. With 36.4 %, the filler loading had the biggest influence on the composite specific wear rate. The combination of filler loading with 1 wt. %, load of 15 N, and abrading distance of 225 m yields the lowest specific wear rate. The involved wear mechanisms during the abrasive wear process have also been explained with scanning electron micrographs.

Keywords:

Graphene nanoplatelets, Carbon-epoxy, Specific wear rate, Taguchi technique, ANOVA, Wear mechanisms