Friction and wear of a hybrid surface texturing of polyphenylene sulfide-filled micropores

• Hybrid texturing was successfully fabricated using polyphenylene sulfide.
• The hybrid texturing can be used even in dry sliding condition.
• The development of PPS transferred layer played an important role in friction.
• EDX analysis showed distribution of PPS and steel debris along the wear track.
• Transfer layer of PPS, texturing fraction, sliding speed are closely interrelated.

A new form of hybrid texturing is introduced and discussed in terms of friction and wear reduction. Texturing with four pore densities of 5%, 15%, 25%, and 35% was made by laser texturing on steel; the pores were filled with polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) powder followed by curing to form hybrid surface texturing. Ball-on-disk sliding tests were performed under dry conditions at sliding speeds of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 m/s, contact load of 9.8 N, and travel distance of 0.36 km. The hybrid texturing protected the metal surfaces by forming a polymer transfer layer. This transfer layer was crucial in the friction reduction and wear resistance of the hybrid texturing.