The friction behaviour of epoxy floor tiles filled by carbon nanoparticles as well as electrostatic charge (ESC) generated from friction when rubber footwear is sliding against them are investigated. It was found that filling epoxy by carbon nanoparticles caused significant decrease in friction coefficient at dry sliding. This behavior can be attributed to the fact that carbon nanoparticles transferred into the rubber surface forms low friction layer, where carbon worked as solid lubricant. Besides, carbon transfer into rubber surface could carry negative ESC from epoxy to neutralize the positive ESC on the rubber surface in a manner that adhesion between the two contacting surfaces could decrease. At water wet sliding, friction coefficient showed relatively higher values than that recorded for dry one. Besides, sliding at detergent wet epoxy composites displayed higher values of friction coefficient than that observed for water wet surface. The intensity of ESC increases due to the good electrical conductivity of carbon nanoparticles. The ESC increase is responsible for the increase of friction due to the increase of adhesion of the two contact surfaces. This observation recommends the application of the proposed composites in the floor of bathrooms. Friction coefficient displayed by rubber shoe sliding on oil/water dilution wet epoxy composites showed relatively higher friction than that observed for oil lubricated sliding. This observation recommends the use of the proposed composites in kitchens floor.
Ali et al. (Sun,) studied this question.