Simulation of effect of counterface roughness on the friction transfer and wear of PTFE sliding against steel

Purpose This paper aims to simulate the effect of counterface roughness on the friction transfer and wear of the polymer material sliding against steel. Design/methodology/approach The dynamic process of friction transfer and wear of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sliding against steel 45 was simulated by the software of particle flow code in two dimensions and a discrete element method. The effect of the counterface roughness was considered in the simulation. The definitions of the transferred particle and worn particle were given. Findings The simulation results showed that a transferred particle layer was formed on the surface of steel 45 during friction. The wear rate of PTFE can be effectively reduced by the formation of the transferred particle layer. The formation and stability of this particle layer is certainly affected by the counterface roughness (Rz). In this paper, the transferred particle numbers increased with Rz increase. And so did the worn particle numbers. However, there was little effect of Rz on the wear rate of PTFE. Originality/value The dynamic process of the friction transfer and wear of the PTFE/ steel 45 friction pair was reproduced at the micro-level. Then, the transfer and wear were quantitatively exhibited. The relations between the transfer or wear and counterface roughness was simulated and discussed. It will be meaningful for the optimization and effective control of friction and wear of polymer/metal sliding system.