Surface topography modification, Film transfer and Wear mechanism for fibre reinforced polymer composites—An Overview

This article offers an overview of the tribological aspects and wear mechanisms of polymer composites especially fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs). It begins with a brief introduction of FRPCs in tribological situations with diverse demands placed on them for controlled friction and wear. This class of materials has distinct feature of transferring film on the counterface and thereby controlling the friction and the wear. However, during this process every constituent (matrix, fibrous reinforcement, fillers and solid lubricants) has a special role to play and to contribute to the final tribo-performance and wear mechanism. The article focusses mainly on the mechanisms in two wear modes such as adhesive wear (when softer surface slides against a hard but smooth metallic surface) and other, abrasive wear (when softer surface slides against hard and rough surface). The mechanisms are controlled mainly by the type of matrix and fibers, the fiber-matrix interface and orientation of fibers with respect to the sliding plane and direction. These investigations can be correlated with wear resistance (WR) and friction also. Understanding of these aspects is a key to control friction and wear of such composites and a first step towards successful fabrication of these special type of tribo-materials.