Grey-Taguchi optimization of mechanical and abrasive wear properties for cotton grass fiber reinforced epoxy composites

ABSTRACT

In this investigation, an effort has been made to analyze the abrasive wear characteristics of cotton grass (CG) reinforced epoxy composites through the hand layup technique. The abrasive wear test is conducted on a dry sand abrasion test machine based on ASTM G65; according to this, the specimen is fabricated with a dimension of 76 × 25 mm². The engineering application for the composites requires that it should have high wear resistance, low water absorption, and robust strength. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, and impact energy are experimentally investigated and optimized and the optimum results are obtained at 9 wt% of CG contents with magnitude of tensile strength of 45.81 MPa, hardness of 34.17 H_v, and impact energy of 2.2 J. The multiple responses of composites are analyzed using the Gray–Taguchi method and optimal factors settings to improve multiple responses, i.e., abrasive wear rate, water absorption, tensile strength, hardness, and impact energy. The results showed that the most critical factor influencing the properties of composites is CG content (9 wt%), accompanied by sliding velocity (96 m/s), normal load (15 N), and sliding distance (60 m). Scanning electron microscopy is used to analyze the composites’ worn surfaces to investigate the potential wear mechanism.

摘要

在这项研究中, 通过手工铺层技术分析了棉草 (CG) 增强环氧复合材料的磨料磨损特性. 磨料磨损试验在基于ASTM G65的干砂磨损试验机上进行; 据此, 制作了尺寸为76×25 mm2的试样. 复合材料的工程应用要求其具有高耐磨性、低吸水性和坚固的强度. 机械性能, 例如: 对拉伸强度、硬度和冲击能量进行了实验研究和优化, 并在CG含量为9wt%时获得了最佳结果, 拉伸强度为45.81MPa, 硬度为34.17HV, 冲击能量为2.2J. 使用灰色田口方法和优化因子设置分析复合材料的多重响应, 以改善多重响应, 即磨料磨损率、吸水率、拉伸强度、硬度和冲击能量. 结果表明, 影响复合材料性能的最关键因素是CG含量 (9wt%), 并伴随着滑动速度 (96m/s), 法向载荷 (15N) 和滑动距离 (60m). 扫描电子显微镜用于分析复合材料的磨损表面, 以研究潜在的磨损机制.

KEYWORDS:

• Grass fiber
• polymer composites
• abrasive wear
• mechanical properties
• gray–Taguchi method

关键词:

• 草纤维
• 聚合物复合材料
• 磨料磨损
• 力学性能
• 灰色田口法

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).