Tribochemical Processes in Metal-Polymer Contacts

Many researchers believe that the products of tribochemical transformations of polymers and metals used as corrosion inhibitors may enhance the wear resistance of metal-pol3mier friction joints operating in hush media. A friction joint can be theoretically presented as a reactor continuously generating products able to lower mechanochemical wear. For practical purposes we should know the regularities of these tribochemical transformations in macromolecules and their relation with the nature and surface parameters of the frictional metal counterbody. 

The present chapter presents investigation results on the mechanisms of tribochemical transformations in macromolecules, gives an analysis of the effect of metal on these processes and outlines the ways they are used to inhibit wear. 

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Analogous cycles are observed in the polyacetal-steel and polyolefin-steel friction pairs. Physical-chemical processes can exert a favorable effect on the metal-polymer friction pair as well. For instance, metal-containing compounds of copper stearate and oleate types are formed in the contact zone as a result of tribochemical reactions when CFD copolymer rubs against copper. These compounds retard thermally destruction processes in CFD, serving as wear inhibitors (WI) for this system. 

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