Effect of glass bubbles on friction and wear characteristics of pdms‐based composites

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to improve the mechanical durability and surface frictional characteristics of polymer/ceramic‐based composite materials. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/glass bubble (GB) composite specimens are prepared at various weight ratios (PDMS:GB) by varying the amount of micro‐sized GBs added to the PDMS. The surface, mechanical, and tribological characteristics of the PDMS/GB composites are evaluated according to the added ratios of GBs. The changes in internal stress according to the indentation depth after contacting with a steel ball tip to the bare PDMS and PDMS/GB composites having different GB densities are compared through finite element analysis simulation. The elastic modulus is proportional to the GB content, while the friction coefficient generally decreases as the GB content increases. A smaller amount of GB in the PDMS/GB composite results in more surface damage than the bare PDMS, but a significant reduction in wear rate is achieved when the ratio of PDMS:GB is greater than 100:5.