Rigid–flexible hybrid surfaces for water-repelling and abrasionresisting

Droplets impacting solid superhydrophobic surfaces is appealing not only because of scientific interests but also for technological applications such as water-repelling.Recent studies have designed artificial surfaces in a rigid–flexible hybrid mode to combine asymmetric redistribution and structural oscillation water-repelling principles,resolving strict impacting positioning;however,this is limited by weak mechanical durability.Here we propose a rigid–flexible hybrid surface(RFS)design as a matrix of concave flexible trampolines barred by convex rigid stripes.Such a surface exhibits a 20.1%contact time reduction via the structural oscillation of flexible trampolines,and even to break through the theoretical inertial-capillary limit via the asymmetric redistribution induced by rigid stripes.Moreover,the surface is shown to retain the above water-repelling after 1,000 abrasion cycles against oilstones under a normal load as high as 0.2 N·mm−1.This is the first demonstration of RFSs for synchronous waterproof and wearproof,approaching real-world applications of liquid-repelling.

Tribological properties of textured stator and PTFE-based material in travelling wave ultrasonic motors

This study fabricated textures on the stator surface of a traveling wave ultrasonic motor(USM)using laser and investigated the tribological behavior of a polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)composite friction material and stator.Initially,the effect of textures with different densities was tested.As the results suggested,the generation of large transfer films of PTFE composite was prevented by laser surface texturing,and adhesive wear reduced notably despite the insignificant decrease in load capacity and efficiency.Next,the 100-h test was performed to further study the effects of texture.Worn surface and wear debris were observed to discuss wear mechanisms.After 100 h,the form of wear debris changed into particles.The wear mechanisms of friction material sliding against the textured stator were small size fatigue and slight abrasive wear.The wear height of friction material decreased from 3.8μm to 1.1μm.This research provides a method to reduce the wear of friction materials used in travelling wave USMs.

Tribological properties of oil-impregnated polyimide in double-contact friction under micro-oil lubrication conditions

Oil-impregnated porous polyimide(iPPI)materials are usually used as retainer for bearings.In these bearings,balls and rings,balls and retainers are two different kinds of contact.In this paper,the friction and wear properties of iPPI were investigated using steel(disc)–steel(ball)–iPPI(pin)double-contact friction test rig for simulating the actual contact in bearings.The results show that compared with that of iPPI–steel single contact,the friction coefficient of iPPI–steel in double contacts is lower and decreases with the amount of additional oil.The surface of iPPI in single contact suffers more wear compared with that in double contacts.Different from single contact,the worn surfaces of iPPI in double contacts are blackened.The Raman spectra of worn surfaces of balls and discs indicate thatα-Fe_(2)O_(3) and Fe_(3)O_(4) were formed during rubbing of the double contacts.Many nanoscale iron oxide particles are found on the worn surfaces of iPPI in double contacts;on the contrary,few particles could be found on the surface in single contact.In double-contact friction,the nanoscale wear debris penetrates inside the iPPI material through the process of extruding and recycling of oil,which is the mechanism of the blackening of the iPPI worn surfaces.The studies show that the double-contact friction method is a new and effective method to study the friction in bearings,especially for those with polymer retainer.

Tribological behavior of lubricant-impregnated porous polyimide

Porous materials impregnated with lubricants can be used in conditions where limited lubricant is desirable.In this work,three porous polyimides(PPI)with different densities were prepared.Polyalphaolefin(PAO)impregnated PPI(iPPI)discs were rubbed against steel and sapphire balls.In operando observations of the iPPI-sapphire contacts show that oil is released under an applied load,forming a meniscus around contacts.Cavitation at the outlet is created at high sliding speeds.The amount of released oil increases with increasing PPI porosity.Contact moduli,E*,estimated based on the actual contact size show that trapped oil in iPPIs contributes to load support.At higher speeds,tribological rehydration of the contact occurs in low density iPPI,with that E*rises with speed.For high density PPIs,high speeds give a constantly high E*which is limited by the viscoelastic properties of the PPI network and possibly the rate of oil exudation.Friction of iPPI-steel contacts is governed by the mechanical properties of the PPI,the flow of the lubricant,and the roughness of the PPI surfaces.For low-and medium-density(highly porous,high roughness)PPIs,large amount of oil is released,and lubrication is mainly via lubricant restricted in the contact in the pores and possibly tribological rehydration.For high density(low porosity)PPI,with lower roughness,hydrodynamic lubrication is achieved which gives the lowest friction.Our results show that polymeric porous materials for effective lubrication require the optimization of its surface roughness,stiffness,oil flow,and oil retentions.