Influence of temperature dependent viscoelastic material properties of thermoplastic composite materials on the tribological behaviour

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Alois K. Schlarb
• Subject Area: Plastics Engineering
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 249374721

The characteristics of a tribosystem are influenced by various factors; the mechanical properties of sample and counterbody play an important role. Samples made of a thermoplastic material usually show viscoelastic behaviour. Viscoelasticity mainly has an effect if load lasts for a longer time and leads to a higher temperature sensitivity of the material. Tribological loads lead to a permanent stress in the material, and the temperature is increased by friction. Therefore the aim of the project is to investigate the influence of the viscoelastic properties on the tribological behaviour systematically. For that purpose reinforced PEEK and POM will be analyzed; on the one hand the viscoelastic behavior will be characterized in detail and on the other hand the friction and wear behaviour will be examined. The results obtained will then be transferred into FE models. First, separate models for the thermo-mechanical answer to normal force and friction as well as wear will be created. Both models will then be merged into one, which represents the tribological behaviour taking into account the temperature changes on the basis of a viscoelastic material model. Finally the results of experiments and simulations are correlated with each other. The change of tribological and mechanical properties in time and place are evaluated in order to draw conclusions about the loads in the sample and thus about the resulting wear.This allows a deeper understanding of the relationship between viscoelasticity and tribological behaviour.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants