Enhancing Wear Resistance of UHMWPE Composites with Micro MoS2 and Nano Graphite: A Taguchi-DOE Approach

Gadipallya Ranga Rao Jagannath; Basawaraj; Channa Keshava Naik Narayana; Mallaradhya Hulikere Mallaradhya; Ali Majdi; Meshel Q Alkahtani; Saiful Islam

doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c00864

Enhancing Wear Resistance of UHMWPE Composites with Micro MoS₂ and Nano Graphite: A Taguchi-DOE Approach

ACS Omega. 2024 Mar 30;9(14):16743-16758. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00864. eCollection 2024 Apr 9.

Authors

Gadipallya Ranga Rao Jagannath¹, Basawaraj², Channa Keshava Naik Narayana³, Mallaradhya Hulikere Mallaradhya⁴, Ali Majdi⁵, Meshel Q Alkahtani⁶, Saiful Islam⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, R.N.S. Institute of Technology, Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Bengaluru 590018, India.
² Department of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, VTU-Regional Centre Muddenahalli, Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Bengaluru 560091, India.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, BGS College of Engineering and Technology, Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Bengaluru 560086, India.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, SJC Institute of Technology, Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Chickballapura 562101, India.
⁵ Department of Buildings and Construction Techniques Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University, Hillah 51001, Babylon, Iraq.
⁶ Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

This study presents an in-depth investigation into the wear characteristics of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites reinforced with microsized MoS₂ and nanosized graphite particles. The objective is to enhance the wear resistance of the UHMWPE by examining the effects of various parameters and optimizing the wear performance. To achieve this goal, wet wear tests were conducted under controlled conditions, and the results were compared between composites with micro MoS₂ and nano graphite reinforcements. The Taguchi method was employed to design the experiments (DOE) using an L9 orthogonal array. Four key parameters, namely, reinforcement percentage, load, speed, and track radius, were varied systematically to analyze their impact on wear characteristics, including wear rate, frictional forces, and the coefficient of friction (COF). The data obtained from the experiments were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant factors affecting wear behavior. Subsequently, the optimal wear parameters were determined through regression analysis, allowing for the prediction of wear characteristics under the optimum conditions. This research not only provides insights into the comparative performance of micro MoS₂ and nano graphite reinforcements in UHMWPE composites but also offers a comprehensive approach to optimizing wear resistance by employing advanced statistical and experimental techniques. The findings contribute to the development of more durable and wear-resistant materials with potential applications in various industries, such as those investigated in the study, which are commonly employed, such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, or manufacturing.