Modeling and analysis of TiO₂ filler's impact on specific wear rate in flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composite under abrasive wear using Taguchi approach

Purpose This study explores how titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) filler influences the specific wear rate (SWR) in flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (FFRCs) through a Taguchi approach. It aims to boost abrasive wear resistance by incorporating TiO 2 filler, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Design/methodology/approach This study fabricates epoxy/flax composites with TiO 2 particles (0–8 wt%) using hand layup. Composites were tested for wear following American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G99-05. Statistical analysis used Taguchi design of experiments (DOE), with ANOVA identifying key factors affecting SWR in abrasive sliding conditions. Findings The study illuminates how integrating TiO2 filler particles into epoxy/flax composites enhances abrasive wear properties. Statistical analysis of SWR highlights abrasive grit size (grit) as the most influential factor, followed by normal load, wt% of TiO 2 and sliding distance. Grit size has the highest effect at 43.78%, and wt% TiO 2 filler contributes 15.61% to SWR according to ANOVA. Notably, the Taguchi predictive model closely aligns with experimental results, validating its reliability. Originality/value This paper integrates TiO 2 filler and flax fibers to form a novel hybrid composite with enhanced tribological properties in epoxy composites. The use of Taguchi DOE and ANOVA offers valuable insights for optimizing control variables, particularly in natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs).