Effect of Surface Topography on Friction and Wear

4 Effect of Environment (Temperature, Humidity, Cases, and Liquids, etc.) on Friction and Wear 

Polymeric materials exhibit a great deal of sensitivity to the environmental conditions (tanperature, humidity, gases, liquids, etc.). Not only are friction and wear sensitive to the operating environment, they are often more sensitive than bulk properties. Temperature affects friction of polymers in the same way as the complex modulus and other mechanical properties. Studies of both nylon and elastomers have shown that the coefficient of friction will transform in the same manner as storage and loss modulus. The coefficient of friction dependence of nylon on temperature is shown in 

FIGURE 13.15 Coefficient of friction of nylon dependence on temperature. (Adapted from Ludema, K. C. and D. Tabor, Wear, 9, 329-348.) 

FIGURE 13.16 Comparison of nitrile rubber on wavy glass for Barquins and Roberts with Grosch s results. (Adapted from Barquins, M. and A. D. Roberts, Journal of Physics D, 19, 547-563, 1986 Grosch, K. A., Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 274(1356), 1963, 21-39.) 

---