Erosive Wear of Glass Fiber and B2O3 Reinforced Epoxy Composites

In this experimental study, erosive wear behavior of epoxy-resin dipped composite materials reinforced with glass fiber and B2O3 (borax) under different impact velocities, erodent sizes, and erodent striking angles along the fiber direction were investigated. The tests which involved slightly rounded and irregular silicon oxide (SiO2) particles having two different sizes of approximately 250 mu m and 500 mu m, were conducted at two different impact velocities of approximately 20 m/s and 40 m/s, two different fiber directions (0 degrees and 45 degrees) and six different impingement angles of 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees and 90 degrees. In the test results, erosion rates were obtained as functions of impact velocities, striking angles, fiber direction and particle sizes. In addition, the microscopic views showing worn out surfaces of the glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites were scrutinized.