Tribological properties of carbon fiber and multi-walled carbon nanotube filled polyamide 66 composites

Abstract

In this study, the synergistic effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube on the tribological performance of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 66 (PA66) polymer composite has been studied. Unfilled polyamide 66, 30wt.% carbon fiber reinforced PA66 (PA66/30CF) composite and small amount of (0.5wt.%) multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced PA66/30CF (PA66/30CF/0.5MWCNT) composite were examined. Composite materials were compounded in a twin screw extruder. Tribological test samples were molded by an injection molding machine. Tribological tests were carried out under dry sliding conditions using a pin-on-disc wear test machine under the loads of 20, 30 and 40N at sliding speeds of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 m s-1. As a result of the study, it was determined that the friction coefficient and wear rate increased with the increment of load and sliding speed but both the coefficient of friction and wear rate decreased with the addition of CF and MWCNT to the polyamide 66 polymer.