Wear mechanisms in polymer matrix composites abraded by bulk solids

An experimental study of the wear of polymer matrix composite materials subjected to abrasion from bulk materials has been conducted. Three examples of vinyl ester resin systems were considered: (a) unreinforced, (b) reinforced with glass fibres, and (c) reinforced with particles of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHWMPE). Soft and hard bulk materials used for abrasion were granular forms of coal and the mineral ignimbrite. The bulk material was presented to the wear surface on a conveyor belt in a novel wear tester. While UHWMPE reinforcement enhanced the wear resistance to both hard and soft abrasives, the situation for fibre reinforcement was more complicated. With coal as the abrasive, it was found that glass fibre reinforcement reduced the wear rate, whereas in the case of the harder ignimbrite, fibre reinforcement increased the wear rate. Microscopy indicated significant differences in the mechanism of wear in each surface/abrasive combination. Wear textures, consistent with both two and three-body wear, were observed with, respectively, soft and hard abrasive particles.