Mechanical and dry sliding wear characterization of microsize silicon carbide and aluminum oxide-filled ortho cresol novalac epoxy composites

In the present work, the synthesized ortho cresol novalac epoxy-based composites were produced by filling the microsize silicon carbide and aluminum oxide filler particulates. The friction and wear behaviour of these composites were carried out by a pin on disc apparatus at applied normal load of 10 N to 40 N and sliding velocity of 0.9 m/s, 1.8 m/s, 2.7 m/s and 3.6 m/s under dry sliding conditions. It was found that the microsize silicon carbide and aluminum oxide filler particulates contributed significantly to improve the mechanical properties, friction and wear resistance of the ortho cresol novalac epoxy. The coefficient of friction decreases and specific wear rate increases with an increase in the applied normal load. The mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile and flexural strength increases with an increase in the filler content from 0 wt% to 10 wt% and decreases with the filler content of 15 wt%. On the other hand, compression strength increases with an increase in the filler content from 0 wt% to 15 wt%, respectively. It was also seen that the composites filled with 10 wt% (silicon carbide and aluminum oxide) filler exhibit the better mechanical and tribological properties.