Improving the tribological performance of POM through the incorporation of bio-based materials

Kneissl, Lucas M. (author), Joffe, Roberts (author), Kalin, Mitjan (author), Emami, Nazanin (author)

Polyoxymethylene (POM), an engineering polymer commonly used in tribological applications, is often reinforced with fossil-based fibers such as carbon and/or glass fibers to improve its properties. To find more sustainable solutions, in this study, the tribological performance of POM/short cellulose fiber composites at different sliding conditions is investigated. An improvement in the wear coefficient of roughly 69% is observed at the harshest conditions of 5 MPa and 1 m · s^{−1} with only 10 wt.% cellulose fibers. The friction behavior is furthermore stabilized through fiber addition, as the unfilled polymer did not show a steady state. No signs of thermo-oxidative degradation are found after tribological testing. This study presents promising results for sustainable wear-resistant polymer materials in tribological applications.

• Language: English
• Keywords: tribology, polymer composites, polyoxymethylene, cellulose fibers, wear resistance
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, iss. 16, art. 2310
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169228
• UDC: 539.92
• ISSN on article: 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym16162310
• COBISS.SI-ID: 236391427
• Publication date in RUL: 19.05.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Polymers
• Shortened title: Polymers
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4360
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517951257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: Horizon 2020
• Project number: 860246
• Name: GreenTRIBOS
• Acronym: GreenTRIBOS