Issue 77

Y. C. Arun et alii, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 77 (2026) 316-339; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.77.19

nanocomposites, these results verify that CNF reinforcement successfully changes the wear mechanism from severe abrasive damage to controlled mild wear.

Figure 17: Worn surface micrographs of 0.8 wt% CNF modified GF/PPS composites: (a) 50 X, (b) 250 X, (c) Emery paper used.

Composite

Surface Features

Dominant Wear Mechanisms

Performance

Deep grooves, extensive fiber pull-out, matrix smearing Shallower grooves, reduced surface damage

C0

Severe micro-cutting and ploughing Mild abrasion with partial tribo-film formation Micro-polishing with protective layer formation

Poor

Moderate

C1

Smooth surface, stable and uniform tribo-layer

Best

C2

Table 11: Comparative evaluation of worn surface morphology, dominant wear mechanisms, and tribological performance of GF/PPS/CNF hybrid nanocomposites Correlation of structure, property, and two-body abrasion The physicochemical and mechanical properties of GF/PPS/CNF hybrid nanocomposites are closely associated with their enhanced tribological performance. The π – π interactions between CNFs and the PPS matrix are confirmed by FTIR data, suggesting improved interfacial compatibility without changing the chemical structure. Increased density and decreased void content (especially in C2), which reduce defect sites and limit fracture formation during abrasion, are indicative of this enhanced interaction. By enhancing load-bearing capacity and interfacial adhesion, the notable increase in hardness (20%) and ILSS (23.7%) with increased CNF content further contributes to improved wear resistance. Because the strengthened construction prevents micro-cutting and encourages the development of a solid lubricating transfer coating, decreased wear loss and lower CoF are seen. Overall, the reduction in wear loss and CoF is governed by the synergy of improved interfacial bonding, decreased voids, and increased mechanical integrity, with 0.8 wt% CNF (C2) showing the best performance.

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