Development and Characterization of Multi-Scale Carbon Reinforced PPS Composites for Tribological Applications

Ayush Jain,Julian Somberg,Nazanin Emami

doi:10.3390/lubricants7040034

Ayush Jain, Julian Somberg + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants7040034

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Abstract

Polymer-based materials show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal based materials in tribological applications due to their low weight, cost and easy manufacturability. To further reduce the environmental impact of these bearing materials recyclability is becoming more crucial, stimulating the need for high performing thermoplastic materials. In this study, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites were prepared in an effort to enhance its tribological properties. Short carbon fibres (SCFs), graphene oxide (GO) and nano diamonds (NDs) as well as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were used as micro and nano reinforcements. The addition of SCFs especially decreased the linear coefficient of thermal expansions while enhancing the micro hardness and wettability of the polymer. Under water lubricated conditions, a decrease in friction up to 56% and a reduction of wear rate in the order of 10 3 was observed by the addition of SCF. The reduction in friction and wear was further enhanced by the addition of NDs, providing a synergistic effect of the reinforcements in micro and nano scale. By testing the individual reinforcements under dry conditions, PTFE and SCFs were especially effective in reducing friction while the release and consequent abrasion of NDs and SCFs increased the wear under a higher contact pressure.

Highlights

Polymer based materials (PBMs) show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal-based materials due to their low weight, ease of manufacturing and low costs [1,2]
By testing the individual reinforcements under dry conditions, PTFE and Short carbon fibres (SCFs) were especially effective in reducing friction while the release and consequent abrasion of nano diamonds (NDs) and SCFs increased the wear under a higher contact pressure
The results indicate that especially at a higher mass loss an increase in degradation temperature is present by the addition of graphene oxide (GO) and SCF

Summary

Introduction

Polymer based materials (PBMs) show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal-based materials due to their low weight, ease of manufacturing and low costs [1,2]. In the tribological industry, this trend is clearly visible with PBMs used in bushes and bearings [3]. To reduce the environmental impact of bearing materials, recyclability is of increasing importance which stimulates the need for high performing thermoplastic materials. The high wear rate of common polymers does, significantly limit the utilization of these materials to low load and speed applications [4]. Engineering thermoplastics such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), show to be promising materials for use in tribological applications. PPS is a high-performance semi-crystalline thermoplastic, extensively used in the automotive and aerospace industry due to its strength, high service temperature, chemical inertness as well as its low linear coefficient of thermal expansion [5,6]. The polymer is suitable for high demanding tribological applications given that its tribological properties are further improved [5]

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