Micro-patterned polypropylene films: Reduced sliding friction

Abstract

Polymeric films are used in numerous applications where low sliding friction surfaces are required, e.g., high speed packaging equipment and low-friction tape wraps. Typical methods of reducing the apparent sliding friction of polymeric surfaces are: (a) the use of liquid lubricants such as silicone oil or erucamide, (b) powdered solid lubricants such micro-sized starch or talc, and (c) fluoropolymers additives1, 2, 3. Studies on modifying the coefficient of friction (COF) by adding different chemicals have been previously reported1, 2. Such chemical moieties are partially transferred from the film to other surfaces upon contact, and may contaminate those surfaces. Therefore, in this study, the sliding friction of micro-textured isotactic polypropylene films was assessed. We investigated two micro-patterned extrusion dies, one with a rectangular texture and the other with a trapezoidal one. A non-textured die was used as a control. The effect of the resulting film texture on the apparent film-on-film COF and film-on-metal COF is reported. The primary educational objective of this project was to establish a protocol for providing "cascaded research mentoring" to undergraduate and graduate students. The advising was to be provided through interactions with researchers from a graduated NSF Engineering Research Center working collaboratively with industrial researchers. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2013.