Prediction of Erosion of Polyetherimide and Its Composites Using Response Surface Methodology

This paper presents an approach to establish the model for predicting the steady-state erosion rate of polyetherimide and its glass fiber composites. Three-factor and two-level, face-centered composite design is used for experimentation. The parameters which affect the erosion rate are selected as glass fiber percentage (0-40%), impingement angle (30 deg-90 deg), and impact velocity (30-90 m/s). Response surface methodology is used to derive second-order quadratic model with interactions. Investigation showed all the parameters have significant effect on controlling steady-state erosion rate of these composites. The interactions of impact velocity-fiber percentage and impact velocity-impingement angle are significant. The increase in erosion rate with the increase in impact velocity is found to be satisfying a power law. Maximum erosion rate for these composites found at around 45 deg-60 deg impingement angle indicates their semiductile erosion behavior. Scanning electron microscopy photographs indicate ploughing, microcutting, development of cracks, and exposure of fibers as the dominating erosion mechanisms for these composites.