Tribological properties of wood as a cellular fiber-reinforced composite

Abstract

The relationships among microstructural, viscoelasticity, micro-hardness, elasticity modulus and tribological properties of wood are important for the understanding and bio-mimicking of fiber-reinforced composite materials. The microstructural, viscoelasticity, micro-hardness, elasticity modulus of wood and the friction between steel ball and wood have been studied. Results revealed that normal load and sliding speed had little effect on the friction coefficient of a hard much fiber wenge (Millettia laurentii). By contrast, sliding speed significantly affected that of a soft porous tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla). The groove of wood surface could store wear debris. The tamarisk had more groove shape vascular cells than the wenge so that the tamarisk friction coefficient was smaller than that of the wenge. Furthermore, the viscoelasticity of the tamarisk was higher than that of the wenge. The tamarisk friction force which was derived from the deformation resistance was smaller than that of the wenge resulting in the tamarisk friction coefficients being smaller. The micro-hardness and elasticity modulus of the tamarisk were lower than that of the wenge resulting in the friction interface contact surface being larger than that of the wenge. The tamarisk grinding trace sizes were bigger than that of the wenge.