Friction and wear performance of pure and glass fibre reinforced poly-ether-imide on polymer and steel counterface materials

In this study, dry sliding wear characteristics of commercially available poly-ether-imide and its composite were investigated using a pin-on-disc ring. Pin materials are poly-ether-imide with wear resistance (WR-PEI) and 20% glass fibre reinforced poly-ether-imide (PEI+ 20% GFR). Disc materials are 30% glass fibre reinforced polyamide 46 (PA 46 + 30% GFR), unfilled poly-ether-imide with general purpose (GP-PEI) and steel disc. Wear tests were carried out at relatively high sliding speeds of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s and pressures of 0.69, 1.38 and 2.07 MPa and under atmospheric conditions of temperature and humidity. Friction coefficient and specific wear rate values for different combinations of the materials were obtained and compared. For all material combinations, it was observed that, the coefficient of friction decreases linearly with the increase in applied pressure values. Furthermore, their specific wear rate slightly increases with the increase in sliding speed values. The highest specific wear rate is observed in the combination of PEI + 20% GFR pin and PA 46 + 30% GFR disc materials. The specific wear rate for PEI and PEI composites are in the order of 1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-6) mm(3)/(N m). Finally it is concluded that the wear mechanisms is a combination of adhesive and abrasive wear. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.