STUDIES OF WORN SURFACES AND THE TRANSFER FILM FORMED IN SLIDING BY CUS-FILLED AND CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED NYLON AGAINST A STEEL SURFACE

The unrubbed and rubbed pin surfaces and the transfer film of nylon-15 %CuS-30%CF composite formed on the steel disk surface were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, sca nning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (ED S). These studies revealed that CuS and nylon decomposed during rubbin g and produced Cu, (CH3)(2)SO-CH2-CH2- and -CH2-CH2-COOH groups, CuSSO 3, Fe-2(SO4)(3) and FeSO4. The analyses at different depths in the tra nsfer film indicated higher concentrations of these species closer to the top surface of the transfer film than underneath. The EDS elementa l map analyses on the unrubbed and rubbed nylon-35%CuS, and rubbed nyl on-15%CuS-30%CF pin surfaces indicated that in the absence of fibers C uS spread over almost the entire contact surface but this did not occu r when fibers were present. These results have been used to understand the wear mechanism in a polymer composite with both the filler and th e fiber.