The synthesis and frictional properties of lubricant-impregnated cast nylons

In order to make a new dry-friction engineering material, lubricant-impregn ated cast nylons were synthesized by anionic polymerization of E-caprolacta m (CL) in the presence of mineral oil and wax. The reaction rate of the pro ducts was not affected by the addition of lubricant less than 8%. Nylons fr om 0% to 8% lubricant content were synthesized and the frictional propertie s were tested. Under various sliding speeds and pressures, the lubricant-im pregnated cast nylon with oil content of 6% showed the lowest coefficient o f friction, while the cast nylon with wax content of 4% showed the smallest . At the wide range of sliding speeds, the PV limit of nylon with optimum l ubricant content was 400% larger than that of the lubricant-free nylon. How ever, when the PV limit of oil-impregnated nylon was compared with that of wax-impregnated nylon, it was found that the higher PV limit of oil-impregn ated nylon could be obtained only at lower sliding speed and lower content of lubricant than that of the wax-impregnated nylon. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.