Frictional behaviour of epoxy reinforced copper wires composites

Friction coefficient of epoxy metal matrix composites were investigated. The main objective was to increase the friction coefficient through rubber sole sliding against the epoxy floor coating providing appropriate level of resistance. This was to avoid the excessive movement and slip accidents. Epoxy metal matrix composites were reinforced by different copper wire diameters. The epoxy metal matrix composites were experimentally conducted at different conditions namely dry, water and detergent wetted sliding, were the friction coefficient increased as the number of wires increased. When the wires were closer to the sliding surface, the friction coefficient was found to increase. The friction coefficient was found to increase with the increase of the copper wire diameter in epoxy metal matrix composites. This behavior was attributed to the fact that as the diameter and the number of wires increased, the intensity of the electric field, generated from electric static charge increased causing an adhesion increase between the two sliding surfaces. At water wetted sliding conditions, the effect of changing number of wires on friction coefficient was less than the effect of wire diameter. The presence of water and detergent on the sliding surfaces decreased friction coefficient compared to the dry sliding. When the surfaces were detergent wetted, the friction coefficient values were found to be lower than that observed when sliding in water or dry condition.