Influence of bionic non-smooth surface texture on tribological characteristics of carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone under seawater lubrication

• Published in: Tribology international 2020-04, Vol.144, p.106100, Article 106100
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhiqiang, Fu, Qi, Wood, Robert J.K., Wu, Jun, Wang, Shuncai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Austenitic stainless steels; Bionic non-smooth surface; Bionics; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone; Fiber reinforced materials; Friction and wear; Lubrication; Pits; Polyether ether ketones; Seawater; Seawater lubrication; Surface layers; Tribology; Wear
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2019.106100

To explore anti-wear characteristics for valve pair, the influences of smooth and non-smooth surfaces on tribological properties of the carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFRPEEK) coupled with stainless steel 316L were investigated under natural seawater lubrication. The results show that the specimen with ellipsoidal pits has the best frictional performance, followed by the specimen with triangular pits, and the specimen with hemispherical pits is the worst. Microscope observation analysis showed that the reasonable non-smooth surface can reduce adhesion wear and improved the stability of friction system as compared to smooth surface. Results also indicated that the reasonable non-smooth unit can effectively store seawater and debris, and produce hydrodynamic lubrication effect, which surface shows the excellent tribological properties. In this paper, to explore the tribological characteristics of the end-face valve pair of seawater hydraulic motor, different types of bionic non-smooth macro units were processed on the surface of CFR/PEEK specimens using CNC machine tool and the friction pair was formed after coupling with another surface of 316L stainless steel. To study the friction and wear properties of bionic non-smooth surfaces with different morphologies under seawater lubrication, the relative rotating process of valve pairs in seawater was simulated by MMD-5A end-face wear tester, and the three-dimensional topography and roughness of all specimens before and after the experiment were observed by optical three-dimensional surface measuring instrument. Finally, some results were obtained and discussed.Fig.1. Schematic diagram of MMD-5A friction and wear tester and installation drawing of ring-on-disc tester. [Display omitted] •The effect of surface texture with different shapes and geometries on tribological characteristics under seawater lubrication was analyzed.•The friction and wear properties of bionic non-smooth surfaces with different morphologies were investigated.•The three-dimensional topography and roughness of all samples were observed by surface measuring instrument.•The specimen with ellipsoidal pits has the lowest friction coefficient and the best anti-wear effect.