Wear Resistant Polymer
Wear Resistant Polymer
(OP)
I have a component currently made of anodized 6060-T6 Aluminum. The component has two wear surfaces that extend in a twisting manner to unlock a latch. I'm told by the designers that aluminum was chosen in efforts to reduce weight and it was anodized to assist in wear resistance. I was orginally thinking the aluminum component could be lined with a lubricanting polymer, but then thought there would be issues with the different coefficients of expansion.
My next thought was to make the entire component could be made out of a polymer (say Nylon or Delrin) but then thought that there would be an issue with a nylon-on-nylon wear surface. Are there polymers that withstand wear between similar materials? Or would I be better off making the component out of steel? I would only be saving a few pounds at best making it out of a polymer.
Any advice would be appreciated.
My next thought was to make the entire component could be made out of a polymer (say Nylon or Delrin) but then thought that there would be an issue with a nylon-on-nylon wear surface. Are there polymers that withstand wear between similar materials? Or would I be better off making the component out of steel? I would only be saving a few pounds at best making it out of a polymer.
Any advice would be appreciated.





RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
Additives to the nylon and/or acetal can greatly improve bearing and mechanical properties.
The aluminium can be coated with PTFE.
Hard anodising has much stronger surface than std anodising.
Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
for site rules
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
Best choice is Acetal on Polyester, if you need precision. Otherwise as Pat suggested, Acetal/nylon.
Some fillers in polymers (eg Aramid/ Carbon fibre) need careful consideration as they will wear metals in preference.
Btw, depending on volumes, you might find for injection moulded parts, the "in position cost" are way cheaper than machining stuff.
Materials with tensile strength approaching cast Al are readily available.
H
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
Molybdenum disulphide in the nylon to act as a very effective nucleating agent and so introduce a very fine crystal structure.
Graphite powder in the nylon to lubricate the surface.
PTFE in the acetal to improve wear resistance by lubricating the surface after some wear occurs and it will reduce dynamic friction in the long term.
silicone oil in the acetal as it will migrate to the surface and reduce static friction.
Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
for site rules
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
In our machinery Nylatron was the work horse of the Polymers. This was not only for its properties but the cost and being readily available.
http://www.quadrantepp.com/default.aspx?pageid=77
http://www.quadrantepp.com/default.aspx?pageid=47
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
I'm not experient enough but maybe there is other material that you can take into considereration:
Vespel(R) from DuPont (it's a polyimide). Specialy filled with graphite, offers good mechanical and wear properties is a large range of temperatures.
Does anyone else has experience with this material? Comments?
Regards,
PG
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
http://
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer
The linked catalog is quite useful thank you
Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &
http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm
for site rules
RE: Wear Resistant Polymer