Tribological Properties of Low and High Density Polyethylene Reinforced by Silicon Carbide Nanofibers

The purpose of the present work is to investigate the effect of silicon carbide nanofibers (SiCNF) of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 wt. % contents reinforcing low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density poly ethylene (HDPE) on the tribological properties of the composites when applying normal loads of 5 N, 10 N and 15 N and sliding against steel. The hardness of the tested composites is measured by Shore D Durometer. Friction coefficient and wear of SiCNF/LDPE and SiCNF/HDPE composites are measured at room temperature. The experimental results show that by increasing the content of SiCNF, the hardness of LDPE composites increases, while for the hardness of HDPE composites there was a slight increase up to 1.0 wt. % SiCNF. Friction coefficient of LDPE composites tends to increase with increasing normal load, while minimum values are detected at 1.0, 1.0 and 0.3 wt. % SiCNF for 5N, 10N and 15N respectively. Friction coefficient of HDPE composites tends to increase with the increase of normal load, while the minimum values for HDPE composites are detected at 0.3 wt. % SiCNF content for 5 N, 0.3 wt. % for 10 N, while for 15 N appears at 0.1 wt. %. Minimum scar width occurs in SiCNF/LDPE composites at 0.1 wt. % content for 5N and 15N, while it occurs at 0.7 wt. % for 10N normal load. Minimum scar width occurs in HDPE composites at 0.1 wt. % SiCNF, 0.7 wt. % and 0.3 wt. % SiCNF for 5 N, 10 N and 15 N respectively.