A novel approach to reduce deformation behaviors of HDPE polymer during friction

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.144311
• Publication Date: 2019-10-23T00:39:18Z
• Authors: Conglin Dong; Chengqing Yuan; Xiuqin Bai; Ye Tian
• Keywords: High-density polyethylene

Abstract Weakening deformation behaviors of plastic materials’ wear surfaces can reduce the friction forces’ fluctuation amplitudes to eliminate or decrease the friction vibrations and noise. New polymer materials composed of high density polyethylene polymer (HDPE) and tetra-needle like ZnO whiskers (T-ZnOw) powder were developed. The wear tests that HDPE specimens modified by T-ZnOw slid against the ceramic balls were carried out under water-lubricated and low velocity conditions. The relationships among the coefficients of friction (COFs), deformation behaviors and physical properties were analysed to investigate the influences of T-ZnOw on the deformation behaviors on the friction interface of HDPE. The results showed that T-ZnOw with a mass content of 6% effectively increased the shore hardness and compression strength, and decreased elongation at break and compressibility properties of HDPE, and resulted in reducing the deformation behaviors and decreasing the COF, and the effect mechanisms of T-ZnOw is revealed. The knowledge gained herein provides a better understanding of the relationships between COFs and deformation behaviors of plastic materials, and developed a new polymer material to reducing the deformation behaviors and controlling the COF behaviors.