Friction and the Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polyurethane Elastomers. 2. Microcellular Polyurethanes

Abstract

The quantities achieved describing the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties proved to be of essentially the same magnitude for solid and microcellular polyurethanes with the same soft segment polyol. In addition to the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties, the dependence of the strength, wear and flexing endurance properties on the mechanical properties at different temperatures was evaluated. The correlations between the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties and the friction could be efficiently analysed with the help of a computer-aided robotic friction measurement station developed in the course of the work. The whole field of friction, and the tailoring of materials to meet desired friction requirements, is an important field for further studies. The temperature scale and sliding conditions of the experiments need to be expanded and a diversity of base materials employed. A further analysis of the dynamic mechanical behaviour of the materials under the sliding circumstances would serve the further friction analysis, as well.