TRIBOLOGY
Gauging wear and frictional resistance through tribology application testing
Michael Katzer, Global Business Development Manager Automotive and Distribution, Versiv Composites
Tribology testing is vital for understanding, optimising, and predicting the frictional behaviour, wear resistance, and overall performance of polymer-based composites. This testing aids in material selection, performance optimisation, design, failure analysis, quality control, and cost reduction, ultimately leading to enhanced product performance, durability, and sustainability.
By establishing a reliable testing process close to the application, it is possible to demonstrate how to improve coating formulations, determine carrier materials and develop polymer-based composite products with optimised wear and friction performance tailored to the individual use case.
Tribology testing of printer and solenoid applications Take the example of a composite film and fabrics manufacturer charged with developing an improved product for friction application in a solenoid valve and a printer. The customer may specify a goal for the solenoid application to produce a version with similar durability (number of cycles) to the existing model but thinner in profile to increase magnetic force.
The customer could typically request a specific thickness level, and the manufacturer’s challenge centres on creating the right material to ensure friction performance remains consistent while meeting the lifetime expectation set out. For the low friction lining assigned to the printer, the aim could be to create a material capable of a longer lifetime, while ensuring the lowest possible friction.
The prize for the customer may be the opportunity to enter a premium market segment by offering a long-lasting product that improves energy efficiency due to low friction value.
Through developing an application test, it is possible to mimic various friction-related use cases. Using a tribometer can aid manufacturers in understanding (a) what the right physical counterpart is to test against their polymer composite material, (b) what the right parameters (speed, pressure) are to get an accelerated test and, (c) how to quantify that for their materials. The first step in the test focuses on the creation of an experimental procedure that considered these key points.
Partnering with the customer, several samples, that had seen the application, can be used to understand the impact of different parameters on the material and ensure that it correlated with the outcome in real-world applications. Through benchmarking different quantification methods, e.g. wear scares, cross-section images, positive and negative value results can be established and assigned. These value qualities can be analysed through optical profilometry, and microscope and SEM used to quantify the different results with wear depth and impact on the material surface and structure.
Use of tribometer and other methods to check wear performance Various methods can be provided to quantify wear, depth and width of the wear pattern so as to measure impact on those composite polymer materials.
Continued on page 29 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.181 JUNE 2024 27
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