A Combination of Mathematical Morphology and Thermal Analysis of Wear Debris Explaining Polymer Sliding Mechanisms

Abstract

Polymer wear debris particles undergo a thermal and mechanical (shear) cycle since their generation and therefore contain information on the friction and wear processes, while it is often difficult to draw quantitative data from them relating to transitions in tribological behaviour. Results from thermal DTA/TGA analysis and morphological pattern spectra of debris are presented and related to a transition at 180°C sliding temperatures own to hydrolysis and imidisation.