Investigation on sliding wear behaviour of UHMWPE filled basalt epoxy composites

Natural woven mineral fiber quarried on the surface of the volcanic rocks. Which are the best competitors for synthetic fiber reinforcement in polymer based composite for different applications. This study introduces to low density fillers incorporated into a mineral based basalt fiber in the polymer composite research world. In the present research investigations as made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) filled basalt-epoxy (B-E) composites on dry sliding wear behavior and the findings were analyzed. Composite specimen was prepared by using a resin transfer molding (RTM) technique. Dry sliding wear investigation as analyzed by using a sliding wear test rig. The sliding wear rate of composites reduced by the incorporation of UHMWPE in to B-E composites. This reduction in sliding wear properties is obtained by the formation of a tribo-film on the steel counter face and which acts as load bearing material to prevent damage of fiber and matrix. The worn surface features have analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and results reveals that severe damage to the matrix and fiber in the B-E composite specimen as compared to filler loaded composites.