Tribological wear of metal-polymer composites in the presence of abrasives
Zbigniew Pawelec, Jarosław Molenda
Quarterly No. 1, 2011 pages 23-28
DOI:
keywords: metal-polymer composite, regeneration, tribological characteristic, abrasive wear
abstract During the operation of certain machines and equipment, like technological lines for the transportation of flue dust to landfill, mining equipment or road and agricultural machines, a specific type of intensive usage, called abrasive wear, takes place. The microcutting phenomenon of the surface layers of both partners of friction with hard particles of chemical compositions with different grain shape and properties, is another phenomenon that occurs at the time of abrasive wear. This requires the usage of hard materials, such as high-quality alloyed and carbon steel as well as heat and thermochemical treatment. The occurrence of the abrasive wear phenomenon of cooperating elements is unavoidable despite the application of the above-stated operations. The application of a chemically-hardened metal-polymer composite on the surface layer of elements, may be a good way to reduce costs, increase the durability of the used elements and simplify the method of element regeneration. When applied in the used element, the metal-polymer composite of specified composition and characteristics, which is able to create a surface layer with greater resistance to erosion, increases abrasive wear resistance in an abrasive environment. The article presents the results of the abrasive wear resistance of chemically-hardened metalpolymer regenera-tive composites and a classic steel-bearing alloy construction joint. Amine compounds with different chemical structure and reactivity (such as triethylenetetramine, poliaminoamide and a reaction product between phenol-formaldehyde and secondary amine), were adopted as cross-linking agents. These cross-linking agents made it possible to obtain composites of very different mechanical properties. Cenospheres from flue dust, electroco-rundum and silica of defined chemical and granulometric composition were adopted as abrasive material. Chemically-hardened metal-polymer composites were imposed on a steel roller, and machined to the desired size to cooperate with traditional construction materials, such as steel and bronze. The friction and wear tests were performed in conformal contact using a T-07 block-on-ring tester in the presence of the selected abrasive material. Tribological tests were conducted at a speed of 0.1 m/s and 1 MPa pressure, without the usage of any lubricant. High resistance to abrasive wear of the metal-polymer composites was proved, which means they can be used for the regeneration of machine elements that work in an abrasive environment.