Effect of different parameters on the tribological performance of polypropylene/thermoplastic polyurethane blends under dry sliding conditions

Abstract

In this study, polypropylene/thermoplastic polyurethane (PP/TPU) blends (weight ratios of 75/25 and 25/75) were produced by melt blending, and a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) copolymer was used as a coupling agent. The effect of the concentration of the coupling agent (5-11 phr), TPU concentration (25-75%), normal load (2-4 N) and sliding velocity (60-72 rpm) on the wear properties of the blends were characterized through a pin-on-disc abrasive wear test. A 2 4 full-factorial experimental design was chosen to screen the significant factors and their interactions influencing the tribological performance of the blends. After the tests, the morphology of the worn surface of the samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Shore D hardness tests were also conducted and the relationships between these behaviours were analysed on the basis of the findings. According to the wear test results, the factors that have the greatest effect on the wear rates are as follows: normal load, TPU concentration, sliding velocity and PP-g-MA concentration, respectively. The wear rate of the blends increases by increasing the normal load, TPU concentration and sliding speed, and slightly decreases by increasing the PP-g-MA concentration. As expected, the wear and hardness results showed the apparent superiority of the PP 75 /TPU 25 blends over the PP 25 /TPU 75 blends, because of the higher content of rigid segments in the blends.

Effect of interconnected metal skeletons on the tribological properties of polyurethane elastomers

“…Polyurethane (PU) elastomers have been widely used in field of industrial tribology because their properties can be tuned between rubber-like elasticity and plastic-like toughness. 1–6 However, owing to the insulating characteristic of PU elastomers (volume resistivity: 10 10 –10 12 Ω·cm; surface resistivity: ∼10 12 Ω sq −1 ) 7 and their low heat conductivity, 8–10 electrostatic agglomeration or even electrostatic discharge due to friction is easily caused in them, which could lead to accidents and disasters, including fires, explosions, or component breakdowns, among others. 11…”

Mechanical and tribological properties of waste iron scale reinforced polypropylene composite

“…Polymers and their composites may exhibit certain properties, which are not obtainable or difficult to obtain in metal and ceramic materials. Owing to their low friction, high durability and good solvent resistance properties, polymer matrix composites can be used in unlubricated dry sliding applications (Sudeepan et al , 2014; Savaş, 2019). For the use in gears, chute liners, conveyor aids, vanes, pumps using industrial fluids and mining equipment, studies have been conducted extensively on the wear resistance of polymer matrix composites (Sharma et al , 2019; Lingesh et al , 2018).…”