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.