Study of Mechanical and Wear Properties of Fabricated Tri-Axial Glass Composites

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical, morphological, and wear properties of SiO2-filled tri-axial warp-knitted (TWK) glass fiber-reinforced vinyl ester matrix composites, with a focus on void fraction, tensile, flexural, hardness, and wear behavior. Adding SiO2 fillers reduced void fractions, enhancing composite strength, with values ranging from 1.63% to 5.31%. Tensile tests revealed that composites with 5 wt% SiO2 (GV1) exhibited superior tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation due to enhanced fiber-matrix interaction. Conversely, composites with 10 wt% SiO2 (GV2) showed decreased tensile performance, indicating increased brittleness. Flexural tests demonstrated that GV1 outperformed GV2, showcasing higher flexural strength, elastic modulus, and deflection, reflecting improved load-bearing capacity at optimal filler content. Shore D hardness tests confirmed that GV1 had the highest hardness among the specimens. SEM analysis revealed wear behavior under various loads and sliding distances. GV1 exhibited minimal wear loss at lower loads and distances, while higher loads caused significant matrix detachment and fiber damage. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing SiO2 filler content to enhance epoxy composites' mechanical and tribological performance.