Wear Characteristics of Epoxy-Based Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Short Hair Fibers and Glass Micro Spheres

The study from 2018 examined the effects of reinforcing epoxy-based composites with short human hair fibers (SHF) and solid glass micro-spheres (SGM) on their wear characteristics. The composites were created with varying SHF content (0, 2, 4, 6 wt.%) and a constant SGM content (10 wt.%), and their mechanical and wear properties were tested. Results indicated that SHF improved the wear performance of the epoxy, and the addition of SGM further enhanced this effect. The wear rates were primarily influenced by the SHF content and the sliding velocity. The research suggested that these composites, due to their improved wear resistance, could be suitable for use in products like brake shoes and brake pads. Additionally, the compressive strength of the composites was significantly increased by the inclusion of SGM.