Wear Behavior of a Polymer-Matrix Composite Reinforced with Residues from a Hydrometallurgical Process

The residues from the final hydrometallurgical refining operation from a zinc plant were characterized in respect to their morphology, and were sieved in different granulometric fractions. This waste was incorporated into an epoxy resin, and the wear behavior of the composites was evaluated. The effect of the volume fraction of filler, and of the mean particle size was analyzed and the optimum values of these parameters were determined. Wear mechanisms were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. With the experimental values obtained for the material with the best wear behavior a case study was performed, and the expendable coating of a conveyor belt used by the cement industry was designed, and the thickness of the composite wear resistant coating layer was evaluated. The results show that the composite developed can be feasible for practical use.