Effect of curaua fiber and CNT hybridization on the abrasive wear resistance of nanocomposites

This study focuses on the creation and analysis of hybrid composites using Curaua fiber and Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) as reinforcement materials. The composites were fabricated through a hand layup technique, with CNT concentrations varying at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 weight percentages. An experimental design approach and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to examine the effects of control parameters on the wear volume loss of the composites. Specifically, the weight percentage of the filler, normal load (5, 10, 15, and 20 N), and sliding distance (250, 500, 750, and 1000 m) are the key parameters for wear analysis. The findings showed that the composite with 1.0 wt.% of CNT exhibited enhanced tensile strength, hardness, and improved wear resistance relative to the other samples. At 0.5% and 1.0% of CNT, the tensile strength improved by approximately 7.52% and 17.04%, respectively, compared to the neat composite. The P-1 hybrid composite has 76.55 MPa tensile strength, the highest among all the fabricated composites. The Rockwell hardness increases by approximately 5.19% and 9.09% with the inclusion of 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% CNT, respectively. The study concluded that the practical outcomes were in close alignment with the optimal results predicted.