Friction and wear of polymer-based composites

Polymeric materials containing different fillers and/or reinforcements are frequently used for applications in which friction and wear are critical issues. This overview describes how to design high temperature-resistant thermoplastics, e.g., filled with carbon fibers and internal lubricants, for operation under low friction and wear at elevated temperatures as sliding elements in, e.g., textile drying machines. Further information will be given on the systematic development of continuous fiber/polymer composites with high wear resistance, and on attempts for the prediction of their load-bearing capacity using a finite element approach. Finally, the application of such composites in thermoplastic filament-wound journal-bearings is discussed.