Effect of addition of organomodified montmorillonite nanoclay on three‐body abrasive wear behavior of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene compatibilized ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate/high density polyethylene nanocomposites

In this experimental study, effect of addition of organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanoclay in increasing quantity, viz. 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 parts per hundred on three‐body abrasive wear behavior of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene compatibilized ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate/high‐density polyethylene (EVA/HDPE/MA‐g‐PE) nanocomposites have been investigated. Experiments were conducted on rubber wheel abrasion tester, which was in‐house developed according to ASTM G65‐04 standard. Comparative wear volume loss and specific wear rate of polymer nanocomposites were evaluated at different loads and sliding distances with 300 µm sand abrasive size particles. It was observed that both wear volume loss and specific wear rate were increased with increase in loads. Wear volume loss was increased with increase in sliding distance while specific wear rate was decreased. Taguchi (L18) design of experiment and analysis of variance were used to optimize control factors and determine statistical significance and percentage contribution of control factors. Scanning electron microscopic images showed surface fatigue and microploughing wear mechanism on surface matrix. The aim of this study is to establish the prospects of studied polymer nanocomposites in automobile, aerospace, and similar industrial applications, where three‐body abrasive wear is dominating. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3962–3968, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers