Friction and wear properties of 3D braided UHMWPE fiber-carbon fiber hybrid reinforced epoxy composites

3D UHMWPE fiber and carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy resin (ER) hybrid composites were prepared using resin transfer molding (RTM) process. The friction and wear properties were analyzed，and the friction coefficient was predicted by a hybrid positive pressure model . The results show that with the increase of the carbon fiber volume fraction of the hybrid composites with a fixed total fiber fraction of 36 %，the friction coefficient of the hybrid composites increases，and their specific wear rate decreases. The wear mechanisms of the UH_3D/ER and C_3D/ER composites are mainly adhesive wear and abrasive wear，respectively. The wear mechanism of the hybrid composites is mainly determined by the relative volume ratio of CF to UHMWPE fiber . The hybrid positive pressure model can be used to predict the friction coefficient of UH_3D/ER composites.