Influence of crosslinking density on the tribological behavior of norbornene-based polymeric materials

In this study, the friction and the wear behavior of norbornene-based polymers prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction are evaluated as a function of the crosslinking density. Tribological measurements were performed using a ball-on-flat reciprocating microtribometer. Friction and wear experiments under dry sliding were evaluated using a 1.2 mm radius Si(3)N(4) spherical probe as well as a 100 mu m radius conical diamond probe with a 90 degrees cone angle. Wear experiments were conducted at constant normal loads for 100-500 reciprocating cycles. Wear depths were estimated from wear grooves using a contact profilometer, and scanning electron microscopy was used to elucidate deformation mechanisms in the various samples. Correlation between the crosslinking density and the wear behavior were observed. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.