Abrasive Sensitivity of Engineering Polymers and a Bio-Composite under Different Abrasive Conditions.

Two different test systems were designed to evaluate the tribological behavior of five engineering plastics (Polyamide-PA grades and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene-UHMW-PE) and a fully degradable bio-composite (Polylactic Acid-PLA/hemp fibers) targeted to agricultural machinery abrasive conditions. Pin-on-plate tests were performed with different loads, sliding velocity and abrasive particles. The material response was further investigated in a slurry containing abrasive test system with different sliding velocities and distances, abrasive media compositions and impact angles.