Je. Castle et S. Feliu, A STUDY OF THE ABRASIVE WEAR IN THE POLISHING OF POLYPROPYLENE USING X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY, Journal of Materials Science, 30(5), 1995, pp. 1151-1157
The study of the abrasive wear of polymers is important both in the pr
eparation of polymers prior to joining and in the techniques used to e
xpose surfaces and interfaces for examination by a variety of analytic
al methods. In this investigation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,
the influence of the atmosphere on the chemical damage to polypropyle
ne during the process of abrasion was examined, looking in particular
for evidence of surface oxidation. The extent to which particles of ab
rasive, alumina in the present case, are introduced into the polymer w
as also examined. In this case a comparison of dry and lubricated poli
shing was made. The latter was found to be the more damaging, with dam
age increasing in relation to the solubility parameter of the solvent
(lubricant). The work has shown that the simple cutting of the surface
by an uncontaminated knife is the cleanest method for the exposure of
the internal surfaces of the polymer. No advantage is gained by shavi
ng the surface in argon or vacuum over that produced by shaving in air
. Dry abrasion using alumina is effective in removing pre-existing con
tamination, but significant quantities of alumina are introduced into
the surface. One effect of this is to produce a large oxygen signal th
at would make subsequent analytical interpretation difficult. As indic
ated above, lubricated abrasion seems quite unacceptable.