Investigation on the tribological properties of recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer-based tribocomposites and their simulation-supported optimization

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Leyu Lin
• Subject Area: Polymeric and Biogenic Materials and Derived Composites
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461939736

Saving energy is essential to mitigate the current energy crisis and, in addition to transforming the energy system, to stop fueling climate change. In industrial production, energy can be significantly saved, and in the plastics industry, material flows from fossil resources can also be saved through recycling and reuse. This continuation proposal builds on its successful first funding phase, in which the strategy succeeded by using recycled carbon fibers (rCFs) to produce polymer-based tribomaterials with excellent friction and wear properties. This strategy for manufacturing of high-performance tribomaterials is continued by using recycled materials (rPEEK and rCFs), which are highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Building on the successful model tests, the scientific objectives of this project are to fundamentally further investigate various modifications with respect to composition and, in particular, fiber/matrix and fiber/particle interactions, as well as to investigate and reliably assess the behavior of the compounds in geometries close to the components, such as thrust washers and plain bearings. It is postulated that the tribological properties of the materials in the system with steel as a counterbody can be carried out in different test facilities by means of the contact temperature determined by numerical simulation. A successful project will not only contribute to the understanding of the friction and wear behavior of tribocomposites with significant proportions made from recycled materials but also pave the way for the development and use of tribomaterials based on returns from the field in terms of materials sustainability and circular economy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Alois K. Schlarb