Fundamentals of tribofilms under high temperature conditions – Analysis of the formation and functional mechanisms of the tribofilms in polymer/metal-tribosystems and their effect on the friction and wear performance

本研究项目的目的是通过对实验结果、聚合物磨损表面以及摩擦膜的化学和机械性能的深入分析，探讨操作温度对热塑性/金属摩擦系统中钢表面摩擦膜基本形成机制的影响及其对摩擦磨损性能的影响。在此，实验重点将放在研究与温度和载荷相关的问题上，如接触压力和滑动速度，聚合物材料的摩擦学响应以及摩擦学性能与摩擦膜之间的关系，以便从根本上了解热特性对聚合物材料摩擦学行为的作用。该建议项目通过考虑金属界面上摩擦膜的温度依赖性演变及其在高温下对摩擦和磨损性能的影响，为聚合物摩擦学提供了新的见解，这与工业应用高度相关。所获得的知识将有助于在特定温度条件下更好地为工程应用定制可靠的聚合物基摩擦材料。

The aim of this research project is to investigate the influence of the operating temperature on the fundamental formation mechanisms of the tribofilms on the steel counterface and their effect on the friction and wear performance within a thermoplastic/metal-tribosystem by in-depth analysis of the experimental results, polymer worn surfaces as well as the chemical and mechanical properties of the tribofilms. Herein, the experimental focus will lie on the investigations of the temperature- and load-dependent, e.g. contact pressure and sliding velocity, tribological response of polymeric materials and the correlations between tribological performance and tribofilms, in order to fundamentally understand the role of the thermal characteristics on the tribological behavior of polymeric materials. This suggested project presents a new insight in the polymer tribology by considering the temperature-dependent evolution of the tribofilms on the metal interface and their effect on the friction and wear properties at elevated operating temperatures, which is highly relevant to the industrial applications. The knowledge gained will benefit to better tailor reliable polymer-based tribomaterials for engineering applications under temperature-specified conditions.