Erosive Wear Studies of Glass fiber- and Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polyetheretherketone Composites at Low Particle Speed

In this study, solid particle erosive wear behavior of randomly oriented short glass fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites was investigated. The solid particle erosion experiments were carried out at six different contact angles (15-90 degrees) and at low particle speed using brown fused aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles (500-710 mu m) as an erodent. The PEEK composites showed semi-ductile erosion behavior, with a maximum wear amount at a contact angle of 45 degrees. The fiber type and the contact angle had a significant influence on erosion behavior. Glass fiber-reinforced PEEK composites showed better erosive wear resistance than carbon fibre-reinforced composites. Scanning electron microscopy studies were conducted to understand the wear mechanisms involved during the erosive wear.