effect of silane-modified nanoclay on the wear behavior of a chopped strand mat-epoxy composite

the effect of silane-modified na⁺-montmorillonite (s-mmt) nanoclay on the wear behavior of e-glass chopped strand mat (csm)/epoxy composite was investigated. the surface of na⁺-mmt was organically modified with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane (3-aptms). the modified nanoclays were characterized by x-ray diffraction (xrd) analysis. different weight percentages of s-mmt (1-7 wt.% at a step of 2 wt.%) were dispersed in epoxy using mechanical stirring and ultrasonication techniques. the s-mmt/epoxy nanocomposites were then used to manufacture the multiscale composites using hand-layup route. the friction and wear behavior of composites under dry sliding condition (distance of 1000 m) were investigated using a pin-on-disk wear tester at 20 n normal load. the results showed that at filler content 5 wt.% of s-mmt, wear rate and friction coefficient of fibrous composite were improved significantly. furthermore, the silanization of na⁺-mmt reduced the wear rate and friction coefficient of final composite compared to that specimen containing the same amount of unmodified na⁺-mmt. in conclusion, this study suggests that the addition of s-mmt nanoclay is a promising method to improve the wear properties of the fibrous composite structures.