OPTIMIZATION OF WEAR RESISTANCE AND FRICTION BEHAVIOUR OF RAMIE FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER NANO-COMPOSITES

Abstract

This study investigates the tribological performance of epoxy-based hybrid composites reinforced with ramie woven fabric and organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanoclay. The composites were fabricated by incorporating different concentrations of OMMT nanoclay (3, 6, and 9 wt%) into the epoxy matrix containing ramie woven fabric. The tribological behaviour of the developed composites was evaluated using a pin-on-disc tribometer under a constant sliding distance of 800 m. Experiments were conducted at different applied loads of 5, 10, and 15 N and sliding velocities of 1, 2, and 3 m/s to examine their effects on the coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR). Among the investigated compositions and test conditions, the composite containing 9 wt% OMMT nanoclay exhibited the best tribological performance, achieving a minimum SWR of 0.0158 (10-3X mm³/Nm) and a COF of 0.0681 at 5N load and 1 m/s velocity. The optimum tribological conditions were further validated using Taguchi-based statistical analysis. SEM was engaged to examine the worn surfaces and identify the dominant wear mechanisms. The improved tribological performance with increasing OMMT content can be attributed to enhanced filler–matrix interfacial bonding and the formation of a protective tribofilm during sliding, which reduced material loss and friction. The findings demonstrate that incorporating OMMT nanoclay into ramie woven fabric-reinforced epoxy composites is an effective approach for developing lightweight composite materials with improved wear resistance and frictional performance.