Effect of Temperature on the Tribological Properties of Selected Thermoplastic Materials Cooperating with Aluminium Alloy

This article concerns the tribological properties of three selected polymer materials: polyamide PA6, polyethylene PE-HD and polyetheretherketone composite PEEK/BG during sliding against aluminium alloy EN AW-2017A in the presence of hydraulic oil HLP 68. The tests were carried out under contact pressure p of 3.5–11 MPa at ambient temperature T ranging from −20 °C to +20 °C. The dependence of kinetic friction coefficient μ_k on the two parameters was determined through tribological tests carried out using a pin-on-disc tribometer. A five-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was adopted for the experiment. All the test results were statistically analysed. The microhardness of the surface of the polymeric material was measured before and after the friction process. The surface was also examined under SEM. Temperature and contact pressure have been found to have a significant effect on the tribological properties of the tested sliding pairs. Relative to the applied friction conditions, the surfaces after friction showed rather heavy signs of wear.