EFFECT OF SURFACE ENERGETICS ON POLYMER FRICTION AND WEAR.

Abstract

FRICTION AND WEAR INVOLVE SOLID-TO-SOLID CONTACTS GOVERNED BY VAN DER WAALS AND ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTIONS ON THE SURFACE OF A FRICTION PAIR.THUS, SURFACE ENERGETICS COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN DETERMINING POLYMER FRICTION, IF DEFORMATION OF BULK WERE NOT ACCOMPANYING THE CONTACT PHENOMENA.THIS PAPER DISCUSSES BOTH THE RELEVANCE AND IRRELEVANCE OF SURFACE ENERGETICS TO POLYMER FRICTION.LPOLYMER WEAR IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD AND MAY BE DIVIDED INTO ABRASION, FATIGUE AND ROLL FORMATION.THE EFFECTS OF FRACTURE SURFACE ENERGY AWD TEARING ENERGY INSTEAD OF SURFACE FREE ENERGY ON POLYMER WEAR ARE DISCUSSED.SURFACE FREE ENERGY APPEARS TO INFLUENCE ONLY THE POLYMER TRANSFER.(A.)