Tribology of High-Performance Polymer Composites in Extreme Conditions

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2018) | Viewed by 10159

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Science and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Interests: design and processing of multifunctional and multiscale high performing polymer composites for tribological applications; material characterization; materials in medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multifunctional, multiscale and tailor-made thermoplastic polymer composites, to be used in extreme tribological conditions, are gaining tremendous attention in replacing both metallic components and thermosets in modern engineering. Over the last 20 years, the number of publications in science and engineering with a focus on polymeric composites for different applications has increased ten-fold.

The driving force for the introduction of high-performance thermoplastic polymeric composites in industries is based on increasing research and development and maintenance activities in this area.

The rising global population, aging society, environmental regulations and awareness, increase the need and demand for energy production from renewable sources, reducing the weight of the components, saving energy, oil free bearings, and machinery are some of the important factors driving researchers in all fields in developing more complex multifunctional thermoplastic composites, which can perform under extreme tribological conditions.

High-performance multiscale self-lubricating thermoplastic composites are those designed and manufactured specifically for challenging environments. Extreme conditions cover a wide variety of environments, from the human body to space engineering, though the focus here will be on the design and development of materials to improve machinery/components’ friction, wear and lubrication in extreme/challenging conditions (including temperature, environments and tribological conditions). Thermoplastics have clear advantages, which have been noticed more recently by both researchers and industries. The tribological parameters (friction, wear and lubricants) affect the efficiency and life-time of components and machines, and therefore have a significant impact on sustainability, and increase of the service life and environments.

This Special Issue will focus on the current research and future trends in friction, wear and lubricant (dry condition and/or oil-free lubrication) of multifunctional and multiscale high performance self-lubricating thermoplastic composites in life science, automotive, space engineering, wind turbine, and hydropower applications.

Prof. Nazanin Emami
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Thermoplastics
  • Polymer composites
  • Self-lubricating/solid lubrication
  • Lubricant additives
  • Water lubricant
  • Coating
  • Friction
  • Wear
  • Oil-free lubricants
  • Extreme condition

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 17296 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Multi-Scale Carbon Reinforced PPS Composites for Tribological Applications
by Ayush Jain, Julian Somberg and Nazanin Emami
Lubricants 2019, 7(4), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants7040034 - 10 Apr 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5058
Abstract
Polymer-based materials show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal based materials in tribological applications due to their low weight, cost and easy manufacturability. To further reduce the environmental impact of these bearing materials recyclability is becoming more crucial, stimulating the need [...] Read more.
Polymer-based materials show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal based materials in tribological applications due to their low weight, cost and easy manufacturability. To further reduce the environmental impact of these bearing materials recyclability is becoming more crucial, stimulating the need for high performing thermoplastic materials. In this study, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites were prepared in an effort to enhance its tribological properties. Short carbon fibres (SCFs), graphene oxide (GO) and nano diamonds (NDs) as well as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were used as micro and nano reinforcements. The addition of SCFs especially decreased the linear coefficient of thermal expansions while enhancing the micro hardness and wettability of the polymer. Under water lubricated conditions, a decrease in friction up to 56% and a reduction of wear rate in the order of 103 was observed by the addition of SCF. The reduction in friction and wear was further enhanced by the addition of NDs, providing a synergistic effect of the reinforcements in micro and nano scale. By testing the individual reinforcements under dry conditions, PTFE and SCFs were especially effective in reducing friction while the release and consequent abrasion of NDs and SCFs increased the wear under a higher contact pressure. Full article
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20 pages, 18826 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hygrothermal Ageing on Tribological Behaviour of PTFE-Based Composites
by Mohammad-Reza Homayoun, Arash Golchin and Nazanin Emami
Lubricants 2018, 6(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants6040103 - 26 Nov 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4530
Abstract
The present study investigates the influence of hygrothermal ageing on the tribological behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer composites. Three PTFE composites along with unfilled PTFE were tested in sliding contact against Inconel 625 (a Ni-based alloy) plates in both dry and water-lubricated conditions, [...] Read more.
The present study investigates the influence of hygrothermal ageing on the tribological behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer composites. Three PTFE composites along with unfilled PTFE were tested in sliding contact against Inconel 625 (a Ni-based alloy) plates in both dry and water-lubricated conditions, utilising a unidirectional pin-on-disc tribometer. The tribo-tests were performed at a constant sliding speed of 0.13 m/s with a normal load of 84N providing an apparent contact pressure of 5 MPa. Hygrothermal conditioning was carried out at two different temperatures, and the water absorption evolution and kinetic parameters were estimated. Various characterisation methods were used to identify the wear mechanisms and influence of hygrothermal ageing on the degradation of the filler/matrix. The different tribological behaviour for different PTFE composites was observed within the ageing timeframe. The wear resistance of the fibre-filled samples was reduced compared to the non-aged ones over the ageing timeframe. However, the friction and wear resistance of the bronze-filled PTFE were enhanced by hygrothermal ageing. Full article
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