Investigation of mechanical and frictional properties of ulexite and colemanite filled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer composites for industrial use

Ulexite and colemanite filled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene parts are manufactured by injection molding method. Tensile and wear tests are applied to reveal specific properties of composite parts. Various characterization methods are used to confirm the filler-matrix interactions, polymer melt flow, friction mechanisms, and fracture modes. This study investigated the use of ulexite and colemanite as fillers in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composite parts, focusing on their impact on mechanical and frictional properties. Results showed that the addition of ulexite and colemanite fillers significantly improved mechanical properties such as compared to pure ABS, however ulexite filler showed much better performance compared to colemanite. In terms of wear test, ulexite filled ABS specimen showed a smooth wear while pure and colemanite filled ABS provided severe wear characteristics. These findings have implications for the development of high-performance composite materials for use in industries such as automotive and aerospace. Graphical Abstract