Effects of mechanical strength, working temperature and wax lubricant on tribological behavior of polystyrene

Abstract

Abstract The tribological properties of polystyrene (PS) samples with different mechanical strengths were systematically investigated. The friction of the PS samples tested against a 6 mm steel ball significantly increased with increased working temperature from room temperature (RT) to glass transition temperature (Tg)+20°C, while their wear apparently decreased. The harder PS samples exhibited lower friction and wear for all working temperatures. Lubricating the PS samples with wax lubricant at RT resulted in much lower friction and wear compared to those of the ones tested dry, because the wax lubricant effectively lubricated the rubbing surfaces. Addition of soda lime glass microspheres into the wax lubricant slightly lowered the friction of the PS samples with lower hardness compared to that of the same ones lubricated without the microspheres, due to the reduced direct contact between two rubbing surfaces and the free-rolling effect of the microspheres.