Evaluation of Mechanical, Friction, and Wear Characteristics of Nano-SiC Filled Ortho Cresol Novalac Epoxy Composites under Dry Sliding Condition

ABSTRACT In this work, ortho cresol novalac resin was synthesized in the laboratory and this synthesized resin was further reacted with epichlorohydrin to obtain ortho cresol novalac epoxy resin (OCNE). The obtained resin can be characterized by FTIR analysis. The OCNE‐based composites were produced by filling the nano‐SiC particulates. To explore the mechanical and tribological characteristics of these composites under dry sliding conditions, the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical, friction, and wear properties of the OCNE composites filled with 1–4 wt% of SiC particulates (40 nm) were evaluated using a pin‐on‐disk apparatus. The improvement in the mechanical and wear properties was attributed to high strength, high hardness, and good dispersion of nano‐SiC particulates, which can enhance the interfacial properties of nanofiller and the epoxy matrix. The lowest coefficient of friction and the specific wear rate of composites were 0.27 and 2.18 × 10−08 mm3/Nm, respectively. A positive synergetic effect was also found, and the proposed quaternary composites might be applicable in practice. The wear mechanisms of these composite specimens were examined with the help of a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive x‐ray analyzer and an x‐ray diffractometer .