Polymer Composites Filled with RB Ceramics Particles as Low Friction and High Wear Resistant Filler

Abstract

In this study, five kinds of thermoplastic resin/RB ceramics composite materials were developed, and their tribological properties were investigated under dry and oil lubricated conditions. RB ceramics particles with mean diameter of 150 μm were compounded with five kinds of thermoplastic resins (PA66, PA11, PBT, POM, and PP). These compounds were formed into disk geometry by injection molding. A weight fraction of RB ceramics particles were 50 wt% for POM, 60 wt% for PA11 and PBT, and 70 wt% for PA66 and PP. Friction coefficients of the thermoplastic resin/RB ceramics composites were lower than those of the neat thermoplastic resins under dry condition, and those were much lower at low sliding velocities under oil lubricated condition. A stable value of friction coefficient against sliding velocity variation was also obtained for the thermoplastic resin/RB ceramics composites as compared with the neat thermoplastic resins under both dry and oil lubricated conditions. Furthermore, a remarkable reduction of specific wear rate was achieved for the newly developed composites as compared with the neat resins under dry condition (67-98% reduction) and oil lubricated conditions (68-99% reduction). These results would suggest that RB ceramics particles can be applied as filler for polymer composites providing both low friction and high wear resistance.