Tribological performance of glass/epoxy composites filled with MWCNTs

Abstract The effect of addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the wear behaviour of glass/epoxy composites manufactured using the pre-preg method was investigated. The MWCNT filling rates were 0.5, 1, and 2 wt.%, and unfilled composite samples were used for comparison. The worn surfaces were characterised by means of scanning electron microscopy for evaluating the wear mechanisms. The experimental results showed that all the composites filled with MWCNTs have a lower wear loss than the unfilled composite sample, and the wear resistance increased with increase in the amount of MWCNTs. It is revealed that the abrasive wear resistance of the glass/epoxy composites is mainly related to the adhesion at the matrix and fibre interface.