The effect of oil fouling on the mechanical and tribological properties of nomex fabric/phenolic composite

Research related to the effect of oil fouling on the mechanical and tribological properties of the fabric composite are rare. Herein, Nomex fabric/phenolic composites were soaked in aviation hydraulic fluid or jet fuel oil for 24h, and their corresponding mechanical and tribological properties were investigated. It was found that the mechanical property of the oil-fouled Nomex fabric/phenolic composites decreased compared to that of untreated fabric composite. Moreover, sliding wear tests indicated that the lubricating effect of aviation hydraulic fluid and jet fuel oil improved the tribological property of the oil-fouled fabric composites obviously, allowing them to exhibit lower friction coefficients and wear rates, compared to the original fabric composite. We also found that the aviation hydraulic fluid-fouled fabric composite and the jet fuel oil-fouled fabric composite displayed varied tribological behaviors and wear mechanisms under the same sliding condition.