Abstract
Tests were carried out to study the effects of matrix materials, reinforcement fibers, interface strength between matrix and fibers, impact angle, and particle velocity on the solid particle erosion behaviour of FRPs. Two types of FRPs were utilized for the erosion tests. One was the thermoplastic resin reinforced by short glass or carbon fibers. The other was the thermosetting resin reinforced by 8-shaft satin-woven glass cloths. The erodent particles used for the tests were SiC abrasives with the diameters of 100μm to 150μm. The FRPs with treated or untreated fiber surface were utilized as test materials to study the effect of interface strength between matrix and fibers.
The following conclusions were obtained from the erosion tests.
(1) Erosion rate is greater in FRPs than in neat resins.
(2) The erosion rate of FRPs decreases with the decrease of fiber content.
(3) The erosion rate of FRPs decreases with the increase of the interface strength between matrix and fibers.
(4) The peak of the erosion rate of FRPs shifts to large impact angle owing to the inclusion of brittle fibers.
(5) In FRPs, erosion rate R is related with particle velocity Vp as R∝Vpn. The values of exponent n of FRPs are almost the same as those of neat resins.
