INVESTIGATIONS ON THREE-BODY ABRASIVE WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF SILICON CARBIDE AND GRAPHITE FILLED GLASS-VINYL ESTER COMPOSITES

The effect of silicon carbide (SiC) and graphite fillers incorporation on the abrasive wear behaviour of glass-vinyl ester (G-V) composites have been investigated. The three-body abrasive wear behaviour was assessed by rubber wheel abrasion tests (RWAT). The worn surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The addition of SiC and graphite fillers in G-V composite improves the abrasion resistance under different loads/abrading distances. The SEM studies indicate the reasons for failure of composites and influencing parameters.