TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF ABACA FIBER-REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS

Abstract

This study presents preliminary investigations into the tribological behaviour of epoxy composites reinforced with abaca fibers. Composite samples containing 10%, 20%, and 30% fiber content were fabricated using the vacuum infusion method and subjected to dry sliding tests under controlled conditions (2 mm contact radius, 300 mN normal load, 10 mm/s sliding speed, 500 cycles) on a CSM Nanotribometer in ball-onplate configuration. The results demonstrated that composites with lower fiber content exhibited reduced friction coefficients and penetration depths, primarily due to fewer structural imperfections. As the fiber content increased, both the number and size of imperfections also increased, significantly affecting the tribological performance. Microscopic analysis of the wear tracks revealed the formation of air bubbles and variations in wear debris behaviour depending on fiber content. These findings suggest that the distribution of fibers and the presence of structural imperfections play a critical role at the microscale under low-load conditions. Further studies involving higher loads, increased numbers of cycles, and a broader range of fiber contents are necessary to fully evaluate the tribological potential of abaca-reinforced composites.