Nanocomposite UHMWPE-CNT polymer coatings for boundary lubrication on aluminium substrates

M. Abdul Samad; Sujeet K. Sinha

doi:10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8

Nanocomposite UHMWPE-CNT polymer coatings for boundary lubrication on aluminium substrates

M. Abdul Samad, Sujeet K. Sinha

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The boundary lubrication regime plays a very important role in determining the life span of any of the two mating parts under liquid-lubricated conditions. It is during the start\stop cycles when insufficient fluid is available to fully separate the surfaces in relative motion and thus unusual wear takes place; a case of boundary lubrication. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of using polymer coatings as boundary lubricants. This study investigates the friction and wear properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films coated on aluminium substrates under dry and base oil (without any additives)-lubricated conditions. In order to increase the load bearing capacity of the UHMWPE coatings, 0.1 wt% of single-walled carbon nanotubes are added. Experiments are carried out on a custom-built tribometer simulating a line contact between a polymer-coated cylindrical Al surface (shaft) and a flat uncoated Al plate as the counterface. The experimental parameters such as the normal load and the sliding speed are selected to simulate the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes for comparison purposes. Specific wear rates of the polymer films and bare Al surface under lubricated conditions are also calculated. Stribeck curves have been generated to evaluate the effectiveness of the pristine UHMWPE and the nanocomposite coatings in the various regimes of lubrication, especially the boundary lubrication regime. It is observed that the selected polymer coatings are effective in protecting the metallic surfaces without causing any observable oil contamination with wear debris.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	301-311
Number of pages	11
Journal	Tribology Letters
Volume	38
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8
State	Published - Jun 2010
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements This study was funded by a research grant from the Faculty of Engineering, NUS (Grant# R-265-000-248-112). We also wish to thank Mr. K. C. Chung, Ticona Representative Office, Singapore, for donating UHMWPE powder for this study. One of the authors (M. Abdul Samad) would like to acknowledge the Graduate School of Engineering, NUS, for the scholarship awarded to support his studies at NUS.

Keywords

Boundary lubrication
Polymer films
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering
Surfaces and Interfaces
Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Access to Document

10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8

Cite this

@article{aed39f0eede54254bd5ea26588e7dc1c,

title = "Nanocomposite UHMWPE-CNT polymer coatings for boundary lubrication on aluminium substrates",

abstract = "The boundary lubrication regime plays a very important role in determining the life span of any of the two mating parts under liquid-lubricated conditions. It is during the start\textbackslash{}stop cycles when insufficient fluid is available to fully separate the surfaces in relative motion and thus unusual wear takes place; a case of boundary lubrication. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of using polymer coatings as boundary lubricants. This study investigates the friction and wear properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films coated on aluminium substrates under dry and base oil (without any additives)-lubricated conditions. In order to increase the load bearing capacity of the UHMWPE coatings, 0.1 wt\% of single-walled carbon nanotubes are added. Experiments are carried out on a custom-built tribometer simulating a line contact between a polymer-coated cylindrical Al surface (shaft) and a flat uncoated Al plate as the counterface. The experimental parameters such as the normal load and the sliding speed are selected to simulate the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes for comparison purposes. Specific wear rates of the polymer films and bare Al surface under lubricated conditions are also calculated. Stribeck curves have been generated to evaluate the effectiveness of the pristine UHMWPE and the nanocomposite coatings in the various regimes of lubrication, especially the boundary lubrication regime. It is observed that the selected polymer coatings are effective in protecting the metallic surfaces without causing any observable oil contamination with wear debris.",

keywords = "Boundary lubrication, Polymer films, Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)",

author = "\{Abdul Samad\}, M. and Sinha, \{Sujeet K.\}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements This study was funded by a research grant from the Faculty of Engineering, NUS (Grant\# R-265-000-248-112). We also wish to thank Mr. K. C. Chung, Ticona Representative Office, Singapore, for donating UHMWPE powder for this study. One of the authors (M. Abdul Samad) would like to acknowledge the Graduate School of Engineering, NUS, for the scholarship awarded to support his studies at NUS.",

year = "2010",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8",

language = "English",

volume = "38",

pages = "301--311",

journal = "Tribology Letters",

issn = "1023-8883",

publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media, LLC",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nanocomposite UHMWPE-CNT polymer coatings for boundary lubrication on aluminium substrates

AU - Abdul Samad, M.

AU - Sinha, Sujeet K.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements This study was funded by a research grant from the Faculty of Engineering, NUS (Grant# R-265-000-248-112). We also wish to thank Mr. K. C. Chung, Ticona Representative Office, Singapore, for donating UHMWPE powder for this study. One of the authors (M. Abdul Samad) would like to acknowledge the Graduate School of Engineering, NUS, for the scholarship awarded to support his studies at NUS.

PY - 2010/6

Y1 - 2010/6

N2 - The boundary lubrication regime plays a very important role in determining the life span of any of the two mating parts under liquid-lubricated conditions. It is during the start\stop cycles when insufficient fluid is available to fully separate the surfaces in relative motion and thus unusual wear takes place; a case of boundary lubrication. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of using polymer coatings as boundary lubricants. This study investigates the friction and wear properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films coated on aluminium substrates under dry and base oil (without any additives)-lubricated conditions. In order to increase the load bearing capacity of the UHMWPE coatings, 0.1 wt% of single-walled carbon nanotubes are added. Experiments are carried out on a custom-built tribometer simulating a line contact between a polymer-coated cylindrical Al surface (shaft) and a flat uncoated Al plate as the counterface. The experimental parameters such as the normal load and the sliding speed are selected to simulate the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes for comparison purposes. Specific wear rates of the polymer films and bare Al surface under lubricated conditions are also calculated. Stribeck curves have been generated to evaluate the effectiveness of the pristine UHMWPE and the nanocomposite coatings in the various regimes of lubrication, especially the boundary lubrication regime. It is observed that the selected polymer coatings are effective in protecting the metallic surfaces without causing any observable oil contamination with wear debris.

AB - The boundary lubrication regime plays a very important role in determining the life span of any of the two mating parts under liquid-lubricated conditions. It is during the start\stop cycles when insufficient fluid is available to fully separate the surfaces in relative motion and thus unusual wear takes place; a case of boundary lubrication. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility of using polymer coatings as boundary lubricants. This study investigates the friction and wear properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films coated on aluminium substrates under dry and base oil (without any additives)-lubricated conditions. In order to increase the load bearing capacity of the UHMWPE coatings, 0.1 wt% of single-walled carbon nanotubes are added. Experiments are carried out on a custom-built tribometer simulating a line contact between a polymer-coated cylindrical Al surface (shaft) and a flat uncoated Al plate as the counterface. The experimental parameters such as the normal load and the sliding speed are selected to simulate the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes for comparison purposes. Specific wear rates of the polymer films and bare Al surface under lubricated conditions are also calculated. Stribeck curves have been generated to evaluate the effectiveness of the pristine UHMWPE and the nanocomposite coatings in the various regimes of lubrication, especially the boundary lubrication regime. It is observed that the selected polymer coatings are effective in protecting the metallic surfaces without causing any observable oil contamination with wear debris.

KW - Boundary lubrication

KW - Polymer films

KW - Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)

KW - Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77953687036

U2 - 10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8

DO - 10.1007/s11249-010-9610-8

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:77953687036

SN - 1023-8883

VL - 38

SP - 301

EP - 311

JO - Tribology Letters

JF - Tribology Letters

IS - 3

ER -

Nanocomposite UHMWPE-CNT polymer coatings for boundary lubrication on aluminium substrates

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this