Tribological properties of blends of melamine‐formaldehyde resin with low density polyethylene

Tribological properties of blends of melamine‐formaldehyde resin (MFR) with low density polyethylene (LDPE) containing 1, 5, 10, 20, 25 wt% MFR were investigated. We have determined sliding wear by multiple scratching along the same groove using a micro scratch tester. Instantaneous penetration depth is lowered by the MFR addition to LDPE. However, there is less viscoelastic recovery and the residual (healing) depths increase with increasing MFR concentration. Microindentation hardness increases along with the MFR content. Since MFR is only partially miscible with LDPE, MFR‐rich islands in the PE matrix offer more interfaces and so increase hardness. Friction determined with a pin‐on‐disk tribometer using silicon nitride balls as a function of MFR concentration shows a minimum. The result is explained in terms of surface morphology seen in scanning electron microscopy. At the same time, all blend friction values are lower than for neat LDPE. Wear determined in the pin‐on‐disk tribometer decreases along with the MFR concentration increase. Thus, pin‐on‐disk wear and friction show different faces of blends tribology. Blending can be used to improve tribological properties of LDPE. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers