Effect of alumina particulate and E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite on erosion wear behavior using Taguchi orthogonal array

This article includes the erosion wear behavior of alumina (Al2O3) and E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The erosion wear was conducted on air jet erosion tester. Alumina was reinforced with a variation of 0-20 wt%. Five formulations were made: L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, and L-5. The reinforcement content, impact velocity, discharge, and impingement angle as machine control factors were employed for the erosion wear. Taguchi (L-25) orthogonal array was used to determine erosion wear. From the Taguchi analysis, the minimum erosion rate was recorded at 10 wt% of reinforcement content, 30 m/s of impact velocity, 1 gm/min of discharge, and 45 degrees of impingement angle. The impact velocity was found the most influential parameter affecting the erosion rate from the ANOVA analysis, with a percentage contribution of 41 %. From the investigation of the scanning electron microscope, the result shows that Al2O3 particles have more interaction with polymer matrix and good stress transfer properties.

Automated summary

This article investigates the erosion wear behavior of alumina and E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites and determines the optimal process parameters using the Taguchi method. The results show that impact velocity has the greatest influence on the erosion rate, and there is good interaction and stress transfer properties between alumina particles and the polymer matrix.