Friction and Wear of Woodceramics under Oil and Water Lubricated Sliding Contacts

Abstract

Friction and wear properties of woodceramics were evaluated under oil and water lubricated sliding contacts. The experiment was conducted with a block on a ring wear tester. The block material was woodceramics (MDF-800) and and the ring was a forging steel (SF55). The sliding velocity and the load were varied in the ranges 1.0–19.0 m/s and 98–294 N, respectively. The ring temperature was measured using a thermocouple located at 1.0 mm below the frictional surface of the ring. In the oil lubrication, the coefficient of friction was small and constant at ∼0.12, irrespective of the sliding velocity. The specific wear rate of the woodceramics was also small and was in the range 5 × 10−7−2 × 10−6 mm3/Nm. With the increase in the load, the coefficient of friction and the specific wear rate of woodceramics decreased. It was found that low friction and low wear could be maintained at least until a ring temperature of ∼160°C. In the water lubrication, the coefficient of friction was small and constant at 0.16 until the sliding velocity of ∼12 m/s. The specific wear rate was also small and was in the range 3 × 10−7−2 × 10−6 mm3/Nm. As the sliding velocity increased further and the ring temperature became high, friction and wear increased.