FRICTION AND WEAR PERFORMANCE OF HDPE/TALC- CALCIUM CARBONATE POLYMER COMPOSITES AGAINST SLIDING DISTANCE AND APPLIED LOAD

Abstract

In comparison to metals, generally unfilled polymers have low thermal conductivity and low wear resistance. Therefore, various filler and reinforcements are frequently added to the unfilled polymers to improve their tribological and thermal properties. So, filled polymers are preferred for many industrial sectors such as aircraft, automotive, electrical/electronic and household application. Friction and wear behaviour is one of the most important properties of polymer and its composites. Therefore, many studies on friction and wear properties of polymer and its composites have been carried out. In the present work, the friction and wear properties of high density polyethylene/talc and high density polyethylene/calcite polymer composites were studied. Fillers proportions in the HDPE were 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%. The morphologies of the fracture surfaces of specimens were observed with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result showed that the addition of fillers to the composite changed the friction coefficient and wear rate. For a specimens, wear loss increases with increasing load and sliding distance; meanwhile the friction (static and dynamic) coefficient increases. Wear rate of all HDPE composites is larger than that of pure HDPE. The static and dynamic friction coefficient of HDPE/talc (80/20) composite is slightly less than that of pure HDPE at each load. The modulus of elasticity, elongation, Izod impact strength and hardness values of the composites were also determined.