Surface Morphology Studies in Polymer-Graphite/Epoxy Sliding

Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polycarbonate pins were slid dry against continuous graphite fiber/epoxy plates in reciprocating multiple-pass wear tests for different values of virgin surface roughness, fiber orientation, and load. Scanning electron photomicrographs of the polymer wear surfaces were combined with three-dimensional graphs of wear rate versus virgin surface roughness and fiber orientation. The types of surface damage observed for UHMWPE at both an 8.9- and 35.6-N load were mild plastic deformation, fatigue of loose particles, and light abrasive cutting. The types of surface damage observed for polycarbonate at either load were massive abrasive plowing and plastic flow of material. The wear debris of UHMWPE consisted of rolled, cut, or extruded particles; for polycarbonate, clumps of transferred plateaus of polymer. The unit pressure times velocity (PV) limit for polycarbonate was reached when samples were slid against the most abrasive counterface transverse to the graphite fibers.