The effect of processing method on dry sliding performance of polyimides at high load/high velocity conditions

Polyimides can be processed by sintering or injection moulding, depending on their molecular structure. Raman spectroscopy shows differences in imide I (CO stretch), imide II (CNC axial vibration) and imide III (CNC transverse vibration) bands for both polyimide types, indicating that (i) further imidisation happens during sintering, while being amorphous and (ii) crystallisation happens during melt processing. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates no glass transition or melting temperatures until degradation at 592 °C after sintering, while moulded polyimides show a glass transition temperature at 250 °C. A dehydration reaction at 180 °C will importantly influence the sliding properties of both sintered and injection moulded polyimides. For sintered polyimide, friction and wear in cylinder-on-plate tests is mechanically controlled and mainly determined by normal loads. Overload for sintered polyimides is due to brittleness above 150 N, as also observed in debris morphology. For moulded polyimide, both normal loads and sliding velocity cause a decrease in friction and increase in wear. Overload for moulded polyimide is thermo-mechanically controlled. Sliding stability is controlled by smooth transfer, which is influenced by thermal action, plastic deformation or shear and promoted by elongation at break. Overload conditions are further discussed in relation to deformation of the Hertz line contact, recovery after sliding and the pv-limit (contact pressure × sliding velocity) related to frictional heating.