THE EFFECT OF CONTROLLED SURFACE TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES ON THE UNLUBRICATED TRANSFER AND WEAR OF PEEK

Transfer films play an important role in the tribology of polymers and other sliding contacts where wear debris constitutes a significant po rtion of the interfacial tribosystem. In addition, counterface topogra phical features strongly influence the physical and mechanical entrapm ent of wear debris and influence the growth and propagation of transfe r films. In this study, to investigate the effects of topographical fe atures on polymer transfer, a novel scribing apparatus capable of crea ting controlled surface topography on metallic counterfaces for pin-on -disk testing has been developed, Hardened steel counterfaces were scr ibed to various surface topographies using this apparatus and three-pi n-on-disk wear tests were conducted to assess the effects of certain t opographical parameters on the wear and transfer film formation of a h igh-performance thermoplastic polymer: polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Ob servations related to the morphology of select transfer films are pres ented and discussed in light of the results. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.