Abstract
In a previous work, we have developed a perflouropolyether (PFPE) lubricant droplet-filled SU-8 composite which promotes bonding between the molecules of SU-8 and PFPE and provides excellent boundary lubrication. The SU-8 + PFPE composite has enhanced the wear durability of SU-8 by more than four orders of magnitude. In this work, the same SU-8 + PFPE composite was used to fabricate a stand-alone laminate film called “Lube-tape”. It has integrated two layers of approximately 90 microns thickness each; the top layer is made of SU-8 + PFPE composite and the bottom layer of pristine SU-8. Thus, a single tape can have drastically contrasting high friction and low friction properties on its two surfaces. The composite side has the initial coefficient of friction ~7 times lower and the wear life more than four orders of magnitude than those of the pristine SU-8 side. This lube tape can be used on any load bearing surface to improve the tribological performance by simply pasting the pristine SU-8 side onto the substrate.
Highlights
SU-8 is a negative photo-resist polymer [1]
The top surface of Lube-tape is shown in left image of Figure 2, which is the low friction SU-8 + PFPE
The high friction side of the tape can be used to adhere to the surface of interest whereas the SU8 + PFPE layer will be exposed against the moving counterface material and can reduce the friction and increase the wear life
Summary
SU-8 is a negative photo-resist polymer [1]. SU-8 consists of three basic components: (a) an EPONTM SU-8 epoxy resin; (b) a solvent such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL); and (c) a photoacid. SU-8 is finding many applications in micromachines [2] and bio-MEMS as a structural material because of its UV-curing property, it suffers from the major drawbacks of high friction and low wear life. PFPE has several superior properties such as high chemical and thermal stability, resistance to oxidation, low vapor pressure, self-replenishment property, hydrophobic nature, good lubricity and good adhesion with different substrates [6]. It was used as a lubricant filler material in our recent study [7], where the SU-8 + PFPE composite has shown a significant reduction in the initial coefficient of friction and increased wear life by more than four orders of magnitude. The PFPE concentration in the composite side of the tape was selected as 5 wt % and 10 wt %, and the tribological behavior was evaluated
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