Tungsten carbide material tribology and circular economy relationship in polymer and composites industries

The implementation of the circular economy concept in industries demands experimental and innovative investigations. The set of strategies and paradigms that express the theoretical base of the circular economy plays a vital role in the enhancement of the quality and performance of polymer and composite materials. In this article, tungsten carbide material is advanced for tribological investigations. The scanning electron microscope and an optical and mechanical profilometer were used for the analysis of cotton polymer and tungsten carbide ball surfaces. A newly developed tribometry technique was introduced to investigate the coefficient of friction, wear, and deformation. The cotton surface was found damaged and rough. The tungsten carbide balls showed low roughness and higher hardness. The average surface roughness parameters R-a, R-z, and R-p of tungsten carbide balls were 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20, respectively. The average friction constant values were found to be 0.12-0.15 in the perpendicular direction and 0.11-0.17 in the parallel direction. Reciprocation distance increment has been used for industrial optimization. The coefficient of friction remained constant and slightly deformed cotton polymer. Based on the friction values, deformation, wear, and morphology evaluations, tungsten carbide ceramic materials could be used operationally for surface alterations of industrial machinery parts. The results could also enhance the quality and performance of polymer and composite products.