International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Comparison study of wear and hardness of EP/
nano and micro TiO2 composites
Farah.T. Mohammed Noori 1, Nadia Abbas Ali2 and Ekram A. Al ajaj3
1,2,3
Department of physics, Collage of Science, University of Baghdad, Iraq
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research is to study Epoxy (EP)/nano and micro titanium dioxide (TiO2)composites were prepared with
different weight percentage of nano and micro TiO2 powder (1,2,3,and 5wt% ). Atomic force microscopy techniques was used to
measure the grain size of nano TiO2 powder (average diameter 26.4nm)of micro and nano TiO2 as (1, 2, 3 and 5 wt.%)
composites with respect to wear and hardness properties. Three types of applied load of wear resistance were performed with
constant sliding velocity and hardness (shore D) were study.
In general the wear rate was increased with the load applied (20N) and decreased with increasing weight percentage of titanium
dioxide in epoxy matrix. The sample having the lowest wear rate = 1.1E-07 gm/cm for 20N, contained nano 5wt% Titanium
dioxide. Nano composites of epoxy /TiO2 have many advantages over micro composites from the view point of wear and
hardness tests.
Key wards: EP/nano TiO2 composites, wear rate, shore hardness , atomic force microscopy (AFM).
1. INTRODUCTION
Epoxy alone has a high friction coefficient in most applications, as well as poor wear resistance compared to epoxy
containing composites. In this research, we review the wear/hardness processes to increase the wear resistance of
epoxy. As a result of scientific progress there is a need to polymeric materials. Less useful certain specifications
obtained from the neat polymer alone of one kind without any reinforcement with adding material, inorganic mineral
fillers or fibers to improvement their performance properties[1],[2].
The desired specifications of industrial polymer as to obtain a mixture or a composite. Recently it was appeared an
attention to the study of friction, lubrication, wear and tear that shows clearly its role in the operation processes of
mechanical systems, which include in its work a friction and wear. Study Ears of wear and tear of the polymeric
materials metal complexes in general and in particular, is provided because of a large, light weight and ease of
manufacture and good durability and low coefficient of contact with him and carry high loads[3],[4].
The properties of particulate filled polymer composites depend on the particles size, shape, loading, dispersion,
interfacial bonding, and surface treatment of the fillers. The dispersion of fillers in polymer matrix has influence on the
physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of polymers. Among the various mineral fillers, calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) , zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) have been the most utilized materials. TiO2 is mainly used as
white pigment due to its brightness. The wear is the process of wear and tear on the material surface erosion solid
surface as a result affected by another solid body. Wear is the direct result of the same processes that causes friction –
the movement of the asperities on the surfaces over one another. If the frictional block and plate model is considered,
then it is easy to see that the constant if the frictional block and plate model is considered, then it is easy to see that the
constant movement of the asperities over one another, with the repeated elastic and plastic deformation, will lead to
material removal and a grinding down of the asperities [5],[6].
Experimental procedure:
Atomic Force Microscopic (AFM)
The grain size of Titanium dioxide is( 26.4 nm) was examined with an atomic force microscopy , a powerful tool for
surface imaging at the nanometer to sub micrometer instrument: CSPM-AA3000.Diamrter is found for nano TiO2
with average (AFM)as shown in Fig(1a,and b )
Sample preparation method
Epoxy (EP10) and hardener type (HY-956) were used in this study in ratio of 3:1 for with nanoTiO2 (26.4nm) and
micro TiO2 (1.5μm) to form nano and micro composites with three different weight percentage of TiO2 (1, 2, 3, and 5
%wt). Careful mixing of EP with TiO2 and composites were then further mixed in an ultrasonic generator (Struers type
3570380), processor at 20 kHz for typically 20 minutes, was needed to minimize voids and clustering and to reduce the
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2319 - 4847
size of the TiO2 particle agglomerates and finally keep it in vacuum. The sample were cast in moulds were cut in
dimensions (250mm*250mm*3mm). The samples in this study was completed normal load (10, 15, 20) and a 50.8
mm/s sliding speed.
Fig.(1 a, and b )AFM of titanium dioxide.
Adhesive Wear Test
Wear tests are carried out in a pin-on-disc type friction and wear monitoring test rig (supplied by DUCOM) as per
ASTM G 99. The experimental set up is shown in Figure 1. The counter body is a disc made of hardened ground steel
hardness (269HB) and with speed 500 rpm and track radius 6 cm. The specimen is held stationary and the disc is
rotated while a normal load is applied through a lever mechanism. Series of test are conducted with three sliding
velocities of 6, 9 and 12 cm/sec under three different normal loading of 10N, 15N and20N. The material loss from the
composite surface is measured using a precision electronic [6] is given as
Wear rate (WR) =
W
SD
………………(1)
And the sliding distance is given as:
SD=2 π r n t
……………..(2)
WR: Wear rate (gm/cm)
ΔW: Weight difference(gm)
t: is the test time (sec)
r: radius of center rotating
n: number of cycle (500 rpm)
Hardness test
Shore hardness is tested with an instrument called Durometer utilizes an indenter loaded by a calibrated spring (Shore
D Hardness tester TH210). The measured hardness is determined by the penetration depth of the indenter under the
load.
Results and Dissections
Wear rate results for EP/microTiO2 and EP/nano TiO2 composites for different applied loads presented in Table (1)
Table (1): wear rate of pure epoxy and EP/microTiO2 and EP/nano TiO2 composites
Pure EP
Composites Sample
1%
2%
3%
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
Load (N)
10
15
20
Load(N)
10
15
20
10
15
20
10
15
Wear Rate
1.54E-01
3.07E-01
6.58E-01
Wear Rate Micro TiO2 Wear Rate Nano TiO2
1.29E-07
7.09E-08
1.63E-07
1.0E-07
2.06E-07
1.53E-07
1.2E-07
7.42E-08
1.37E-07
9.90E-08
1.84E-07
1.58E-07
8.9E-08
6.8E-08
1.18E-07
9.2E-08
Page 231
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Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2319 - 4847
20
10
15
20
5%
1.69E-07
9.87E-08
1.16E-07
1.7E-07
1.44E-07
6.0E-08
7.0E-08
1.1E-07
For this study, the epoxy matrix was originally filled with small weight percents of Titanium dioxide to increase the
wear resistance; the wear rate increased by more than 10 with the addition of 1 wt%. Fig.( 2-6) and Table (1) give all
of the samples created for the study and the corresponding wear rates versus applied load (10, 15, and 20) N for all the
Wt% of each nano and microTiO2 filler it is observed increasing of wear rate with increase of applied load for all
samples and also observed decreasing the wear rate for nano composites than of micro composites . The sample having
the lowest wear rate = 1.1E-07 gm/cm for 20N, contained nano 5wt% Titanium dioxide and 95wt% EP.
EP
7.00E-01
W
ear Rate(gm
/cm
)
6.00E-01
5.00E-01
4.00E-01
3.00E-01
2.00E-01
1.00E-01
0.00E+00
5
10
15
20
25
Load(N )
Fig.(2) Wear rate as a function of applied load of neat Epoxy
2.50E-07
1%micro TiO2
Wear Rate(gm/cm)
1%nano TiO2
2.00E-07
1.50E-07
1.00E-07
5.00E-08
0.00E+00
5
10
15
20
25
Load(N)
Fig.(3) Wear rate as a function of applied load of 1wt%micro and nanoTiO2composite
2.00E-07
1.80E-07
1.60E-07
1.40E-07
1.20E-07
2%microTiO2
Wear Rate (gm\cm)
2%nanoTiO2
1.00E-07
8.00E-08
6.00E-08
4.00E-08
2.00E-08
0.00E+00
5
10
Load
15 (N)
20
25
Fig. (4) Wear rate as a function of applied load of 2wt%micro and nanoTiO2composite
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Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2319 - 4847
3%microTiO2
1.80E-07
3%nano TiO2
1.60E-07
Wear Rate(gm/cm)
1.40E-07
1.20E-07
1.00E-07
8.00E-08
6.00E-08
4.00E-08
2.00E-08
0.00E+00
5
10
15
20
25
Load(N)
Fig. (5) Wear rate as a function of applied load of 3wt%micro and nanoTiO2composite
1.80E-07
5% microTiO2
1.60E-07
5%nanoTiO2
WearRate(gm/cm)
1.40E-07
1.20E-07
1.00E-07
8.00E-08
6.00E-08
4.00E-08
2.00E-08
0.00E+00
5
10
Load( N)15
20
25
Fig.(6) Wear rate as a function of applied load of 5wt%micro and nanoTiO2composite
Wear Rate (gm/c)
Tow Fig (7-8) for both Epoxy micro and nano TiO2 was observed that decreased of wear rate with increasing weight
percentage of dioxide Titanium powder.
Load 10 N
1.80E-07
1.60E-07
1.40E-07
1.20E-07
1.00E-07
8.00E-08
6.00E-08
4.00E-08
2.00E-08
0.00E+00
0%
Load 15 N
Load 20 N
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
Micro TiO2 w e ight %
Wear Rate (gm/cm)
Fig.(7) Wear rate with Epoxy/ microTiO2 composites for different applied loads
2.00E-07
Load 10 N
1.80E-07
Load 15 N
1.60E-07
Load 20N
1.40E-07
1.20E-07
1.00E-07
8.00E-08
6.00E-08
4.00E-08
2.00E-08
0.00E+00
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
Nano TiO2 Weight %
Fig.(8) Wear rate of epoxy/ nanoTiO2 composites for different applied loads
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
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Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
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The increase of wear rate by increase load due to increase the friction strength of friction force, F   is
the
average normal load (N) and μ is friction strength coefficient. When two bodies slide/rub against each other under the
influence of a force commonly, the surface of the softer body loses mechanical cohesion and debris is formed that is
dislodged from the contact zone resulting in scratch/wear damage. Polymer materials when reinforced with high
modulus fibers yield higher strength, higher stiffness, better toughness, and good dimensional stability[7],[8].Fiber
reinforcements are effective in reducing wear in adhesive situations in addition to increasing the strength and stiffness.
Nano scale Fillers such as, TiO2, SiO2, and Al2O3 have also been shown to reduce friction and wear in epoxy matrix
composites[9],[10]. For hardness resistance are achieved at the larger of nano composites than micro composites
hardness tests were run on the EP/nano TiO2 composites with filler content of (1, 2, 3 and 5 wt%) are recorded as 62
Hv ,78.2 Hv, 82 Hv and 85 respectively. For hardened of unfilled composite, is found to be 58.75 Hv. It is thus seen
that the hardness is improved, though marginally, by the incorporation of TiO2 as shown in Fig.9.
Micro TiO2
90
Nano TiO2
80
Hardness
70
60
50
40
30
20
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
TiO2%
Fig.(9) Hardness effect of Epoxy/ micro and nano TiO2 composite as a function of TiO2 wt%
Polymer nano composites have many advantages over micro composites from the viewpoint of wear and hardness test,
so, to overcome these backs from macro- and micro scale reinforcements, nano scale fillers were introduced – where
the filler is<50 nm in at least one dimension. Generally, three major characteristics define and form the basis of
performance of polymer nano composites: (i) nano confined matrix polymer chains, (ii) nano scale inorganic
constituents, and (iii) nano scale arrangement of these constituents [11].
2. CONCLUSION
1- It is observed increasing of wear rate with increase of applied load for all samples and observed decreasing the wear
rate for nano composites than of micro composites. The sample having the lowest wear rate =1.1E-07gm/cm for 20N,
contained 5wt% nano Titanium dioxide and 95wt% EP.
2- Epoxy/TiO2 nano composite hardness increase with weight percentage of TiO2 and for all concentration larger than
micro composites.
3- Hardness resistance are achieved at the larger of nano composites than micro composites hardness tests were run on
the EP/TiO2composites with filler.
4-polymer nanocomposites have many advantages over Micro composites from the viewpoint of wear rate and hardness
test.
REFERENCES
[1] Sirirat Wacharawichanant,Supakanok Thongyai2, Tanakorn Siripattanasak, and Tunya Tipsri,” Effect of Mixing
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[6] TARUN AGGARWAL” Sliding wear behavior of glass fiber reinforced TiO2 field epoxy resin composite” A thesis
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2319 - 4847
[7] L.Chang, Z.Zhang, C.Breidt, K.Friedrich ‘Tribological properties of epoxy nanocomposites: I. Enhancement of the
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[8]Victor M.F. Evora, Arun Shukla” Fabrication, characterization, and dynamic behavior of polyester/TiO2
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[9] B. Shivamurthy, Siddaramaiah and M.S. Prabhuswamy” Influence of SiO2 Fillers on Sliding Wear Resistance and
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