Mechanics of abrasive wear of elastomeric materials

Elastomeric materials are widely used as tire and sealing materials due to their ability to undergo large deformations and conform to the mating surface. However, their applications often result in repeated contact with abrasive particles, which act to abrasively wear the elastomers. Elastomeric materials are observed to exhibit a characteristic form of abrasive pattern on the surface after cyclic scratching. The dimension of this pattern is closely related to the wear rate, whereas the formation of this pattern is controlled by abrasive particle sizes, material mechanical properties, loading conditions, thermal conditions, and chemical degradation of materials. Much research has been conducted in the past. However, direct observations of the wear process are rare. The mechanics underlying the abrasive wear of elastomeric materials is unclear. In order to provide fundamental understanding of the abrasive wear of elastomeric materials due to abrasive particle indentation and scratching, this research studied the wear of elastomeric materials subjected to scratching by knife geometries that simulate abrasive particles and contact conditions. Efforts were focused on establishing direct observations and analysis of the deformation mechanics. An in situ micro scratching test capability operating within a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was developed and used together with image processing to reveal the local deformation fields. Surface profile analyses using both SEM and ZYGO (a non-contact interferometer) were also conducted to observe the surface change during cyclic scratching. The large strain nonlinear stress-strain behavior of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) exhibits strong hysteresis, rate dependence and cyclic softening.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Qi, Hang, 1971-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mary C. Boyce.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29994

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/29994