FRICTIONAL PROPERTIES OF PALM KERNEL ACTIVATED CARBON-EPOXY COMPOSITE UNDER VARIOUS NORMAL LOADS
This study investigates the effect of normal load on the frictional properties of palm kernel activated carbon-epoxy (PKAC-E) composite. The PKAC-E composite specimen was fabricated by hot compression molding method. The dry sliding test was performed by using a pin-on-disc tribometer at various normal loads, range from 5 – 100N. The sliding speed and distance were constant. All tests were performed at room temperature. It was found that the coefficient of friction decreases with normal load, though at 60N, friction coefficient increases slightly and remains almost invariant at about 0.04 with normal load. The main conclusion of this study is that PKAC-E composite has a potential for tribological material application but only limited at low normal load under unlubricated conditions.