High-Resolution Optical Microscopic Image Dataset of Epoxy and Gum Arabic-Reinforced Epoxy Overlay Systems on EN8 Steel Substrates under reciprocating sliding motion
Description
This dataset studies whether gum arabic (GA), a low-cost and sustainable biopolymer, can improve the wear resistance of epoxy coatings on steel. The main idea is that adding GA to epoxy may change the wear behavior and surface damage during reciprocating sliding compared with pure epoxy. The dataset contains 273 high-resolution optical microscopy images (.tif) of wear scars formed on EN8 steel substrates coated with epoxy (Araldite LY556), with and without GA. Two Taguchi L16 tests were used. The EP group (pure epoxy) contains 135 images and was tested by changing the normal load (5–20 N), sliding frequency (1–2.5 Hz), and temperature (40–70 °C). The EPGA group (epoxy with GA) contains 138 images and was tested using the same three parameters along with different GA contents (0.25–3 wt.%). A total of 32 test conditions were studied, and each condition was tested three times using a reciprocating ball-on-flat tribometer against an EN31 steel counter-ball. The wear scars were taken at up to three locations (center, edge, and overview) using 50× magnification. The images are arranged by coating group, test condition, and replicate number. They are listed in the accompanying Metadata_Manifest.csv file. The file contains the test conditions, image information, and the observed wear mechanisms. The wear mechanisms include micro-cracking, ploughing, adhesive pitting, plastic deformation, transfer-film formation, and Schallamach-like waves. Some conditions have fewer images than expected because of actual test results and not because of missing data. In EP conditions C2, C8, and C12, coating peeling occurred in one replicate. In EPGA condition G3, no visible wear scar was produced. These results are included because they provide useful information about the coating behavior under those test conditions. The images can be used to study changes in wear-scar shape and surface damage between pure epoxy and GA-reinforced epoxy. The average coefficient of friction and specific wear rate from the related publication are also provided in the metadata for reference. The images and their wear-mechanism labels are the main data in this dataset. This dataset can be used for studying wear mechanisms, comparing bio-based gum arabic reinforced epoxy and pure epoxy coatings, image analysis, and developing machine-learning methods for wear classification. The condition numbers C1–C16 and G1–G16 follow the Taguchi test order used in the related study.