Development and sliding wear behaviour of milled carbon fibre reinforced epoxy gradient composites

Milled carbon fibre reinforced epoxy gradient composites were developed at different centrifugation speeds having 3 wt% of milled carbon fibre. Composites were also prepared at different RPMs. There is a gradient formation at all the speeds, which has been confirmed by variation in density of different zones. Highest rpm centrifuged sample gave best wear resistance as compared to others up to transition zone, i.e. 7.0 mm from outer most side. After transition zone, wear resistance suddenly decreased. This is because maximum compaction of milled carbon fibres occurred at outer most surface at 1100 rpm, which has been confirmed by observing the worn microstructure of composite. Sample prepared at 900 rpm after the transition zone shows maximum wear resistance due to the presence of more number of carbon fibres. In the worn microstructure flower formation as occurred at few places, after sliding where a few milled carbon fibres segregated in the composite due to minimum energy consideration.