Sliding wear performance of epoxy–based nanocomposites

Abstract Epoxy, a typical thermosetting polymer, has been used in a wide range of engineering applications because of its outstanding processability, good affinity and considerable thermal and mechanical properties. Incorporation of small amount of inorganic nanoparticles proved to be able to greatly improve the tribological properties of epoxy. The present chapter evaluates the sliding wear behaviors of epoxy and its composites filled with silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles. Polyglycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) and a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and styrene were grafted onto the nanoparticles as a measure of surface pretreatment, respectively. The grafted polymers were selected because the epoxide groups on PGMA would take part in the curing reaction of epoxy resin and covalently connect the nanoparticles with the matrix, while styrene acted as a copolymerized monomer to adjust the amount of the reactive groups of the grafted macromolecular chains, and hence interfacial compatibility between the grafted polymers and the matrix. In comparison to the composites filled with untreated nano–SiC particles, the composites with the grafted nano–SiC exhibit enhanced sliding wear resistance and reduced frictional coefficient owing to the chemical bonding at the filler–matrix interface. Microstructures of the composites had a critical influence on the composites performance.