Formation and effect of third-body patches in the tribological contact space of plastic-based high-performance tribological materials in sliding contact with steel

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Understanding on the friction and wear mechanisms of tribological materials is the crucial basis for the further development of such materials. Particularly in the case of plastic-based tribomaterials, a transfer film forms on the steel counterbody during sliding contact with steel, which in turn changes the morphology in the contact space of the plastic-based base body. In project-related preliminary work, for example, it was shown that under certain conditions submicroscale components accumulate in front of the reinforcing fibers of a plastic-based hybrid base body. These so-called " third-body patches" then have a decisive, and in this case advantageous, influence on the tribological behavior of the sliding pair. The objectives of the project are to explore and ultimately uncover the relationships between the composition of a base body, consisting of a polymeric matrix, a carbon fiber reinforcement, an internal lubricant, and submicro- or nanoscale particles, and the tribological load spectrum, with particular emphasis on the formation of "third-body patches." Understanding these microstructure features will not only deepen the knowledge of the tribological mechanisms of polymer/metal tribosystems, but also pave the way for the development of polymer-based composites with excellent friction and wear performance.