TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF A SILICONE-BASED COMPOSITEWITH INORGANIC ADDITIVES

Abstract

The paper presents the results of experimental studies, including tribological tests of silicone-based compositeswith additions of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and titanium (Ti). The tests were conducted on a BrukerUMT2 tribotester and using a pin-on-disk setup developed by the authors, without a lubricating medium,and they employed a steel ball made of 100Cr6 steel and a sample made of the composite. During the tests,the products were not removed from the contact area. The paper analyzes the influence of additives on thetribological properties of the composite, i.e., the coefficient of friction (COF) as a function of distance and thewear of the tested samples. In the case of samples containing hBN, the COF decreases with an increase in itscontent. After reaching a volumetric percentage concentration of 20%, it begins to stabilize with the increasein mass loss. The profiles of COF changes as a function of distance for samples with different additivecontents are comparable. The self-lubricating properties of hBN have been confirmed. The addition of Tireduces the COF value, which decreases with the increase in the Ti content. Samples with a mass percentageconcentration exceeding 100% of the Ti content have a COF value equal to the initial value for silicone. Thecomposite containing hBN has a lower COF value than samples with the Ti addition, and the wear tracks ontheir surface are narrower and shallower.