High-Temperature Tribological Performance of Bionic Oil-Containing Laminated Composite

To improve the high-temperature tribological performance of the polymer composite, an oil-containing laminated composite was prepared bionically by adding the poly-α-olefin (PAO) oil into the polymer, and the oil-containing polymer was filled into the laminated grooved surface. The tribological performance of the composite was investigated on a pin-on-disc tribometer under high temperature condition. It was found that with the increase of the test temperature, the friction factor of the laminated composite without oil was increased and lubrication failure occurred at 150℃. For the oil-containing composite, the average friction factor was as low as below 0.1 in the temperature range of 25-150℃, but increased to 0.18 as temperature rose to 200℃. The analysis of wear scars showed that: (i) for the laminated composite without oil, the wear type of steel surface was severe abrasive wear, while the polymer surface was erosion and wear; and (ii) for the oil-containing laminated composite, the steel surface presented minor scratches and the polymer surface showed plastic flow. The lubrication mechanism of the oil-containing laminated composite can be deduced as follows: polymer porous structure can stockpile the oil in the base material, the heat drives oil moving to the frictional surface and hence forming a stable lubricating oil, thus the lubrication life of the oil-containing laminated composite can be improved under high-temperature conditions.