Graphite composite

[harith07]

Hi to All the Great minds,

I have a problem. We have a particular 16" superheated steam pipe support which utilises graphite composite plate about 1/2" thk as a sliding media. As we know, graphite has an excellent lubricating property and when reinforced with an organic matrix and resin yields a medium which has excellent stiffness and strength. My problem is, if given a sample which was broken, from the existing application, how do I tell what kind or what composition or what strength or what stiffness I should specify to purchase the composite material. Given that:

1) I am persistent not to rely on the vendors for infos.
2) There is no existing info of the item available which was procured years ago.
3) I do not want to test the broken specimen.

Any leads anyone?
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harith07

 

[NickE]

I dont see how you are going to figure out what you need without testing what you currently have.

You could do some stress analysis, and relate that to theroetical properties of composites. You are going to still be left with the unkown of what worked.

some simple evaluation of the current part would involve matrix/rienforcement fraction along with matrix material. (Although its likely epoxy.)

Good luck.

 

[MechanicalChef]

Do you own a crystal ball?

Since you're not willing or able to reverse engineer the part, you're going to have to design it forward. And if you are determined not to use vendor data, you've pretty much painted yourself into the proverbial corner and created an impossible task.

Perhaps the world of composites isn't for you. If you need a sliding surface, how about a steal or aluminum part with rollers.