Effects of Soaking in Water, Base Oil, Ionic Liquid, and Grease of an Epoxy/UHMWPE/MoS2 Composite on Mechanical and Tribological Properties

Abstract

Liquid absorption and tribological studies of epoxy-based composite with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and MoS2, sliding against steel, were conducted. Composites, as coating and as a bulk, were soaked in water, base oil, ionic liquid, and lithium-based grease for different intervals of days or months. Liquid weight percent gain was more in polar liquids when compared to non-polar. Coated composite soaked in grease for 10 days showed coefficient of friction of 0.08 with wear life of more than 1 million cycles and wear-rate of 1.7 × 10−8 mm3/N m. Bulk polymer composite soaked in grease for 180 days provided the least coefficient of friction of 0.06 and specific wear-rate of 2.60 × 10−7 mm3/N m.