Investigation of the Relationship between Electrification and Tribochemical Reactions in Metal-Polymer Systems

The study investigates the relationship between electrification of bodies and tribochemical processes of destruction of a composite material. The evolution of secondary surface structures is studied by ATR IR spectroscopy. It is found that the transfer films consist of fragments of the epoxy-diane matrix. The onset of electrification during friction of metal-polymer systems is due to the transfer of radicals and ions formed as a result of the destruction of organic molecules by homo- and heterolytic mechanisms. It is shown that the heterolytic destruction prevails at the initial stage of friction. Oxidation of free radicals is accompanied by the appearance of C=O bond vibration bands in the IR spectra. Modification of the epoxy-diane matrix with particles with a spinel structure activates the formation of secondary surface structures in metal-polymer triboconjugation. The potential difference between the bodies does not disappear even after a long time after the end of the friction process due to the presence of charges fixed on the surface. The main contribution to electrification in metal-polymer systems is made by the transfer of ions rather than electrons.