Wear Failures of Reinforced Polymers^[1]

This article briefly reviews abrasive and adhesive wear failure of reinforced polymers and polymer composites, namely particulate-filled polymers, short-fiber-reinforced polymers, polymers with continuous fibers, and mixed reinforcements and fabrics. It includes scanning electron microscope micrographs of abraded surfaces of composites against 80-grade SiC paper and under 14 N load, and worn surfaces of abraded polyether-imide composites and polyamide 66 unidirectional composites and 66 hybrid composites.