Effect of rubber on tribological behaviors of polyamide 66 under dry and water lubricated sliding

The friction and wear behaviors of polyamide 66 (PA 66) and rubber-filled PA 66 (PA 66/SEBS-g-MA) composites were investigated on a block-on-wheel model friction and wear tester under dry sliding and water lubricating conditions. In order to further understand the wear mechanisms, the worn surfaces and scraps of samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The experimental results indicated that the wear mass loss and the friction coefficient of PA 66 decreased with the addition of rubber particles. The friction coefficients of PA 66 and PA 66/SEBS-g-MA composites under water lubricating condition are lower than those under dry sliding condition, but the wear mass losses are higher than those under dry sliding condition. The main wear mechanisms under dry sliding condition are the plastic deformation and mechanical microploughing. Whereas the main wear mechanisms under water lubricating condition are the mechanical microploughing and abrasive wear. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.