ABRASIVE WEAR OF POLYMERS

The main features of the abrasion of polymers are outlined in an attempt to formulate a general picture of the wear processes involved. The relative roles of plastic and elastic deformation are first discussed and the wear phenomena on abrasive papers, metal gauze and rough metal surfaces are then described. As the counterface topography becomes smoother and/or the surface asperities become less sharp, the wear process for any one polymer changes from cutting on an asperity scale to surface fatigue. Variations in the mechanical properties of polymers also affect the wear process for a given counterface topography, cutting being most important for the rigid polymers and fatigue (or sometimes tensile tearing) for the more elastic polymers. Modifications to a counterface surface during repeated sliding, either by transfer or wear, further influence the wear process, and fillers and reinforcing fibres in a polymer can play an important role in this respect. Finally, three-body abrasion phenomena are considered and an attempt is made to determine the various factors influencing the embeddability of abrasive particles in polymers. © 1969.