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Comparative analysis of wear behaviour of commercial polymeric pipe materials under different sliding environments

ABSTRACT The friction and wear behaviour of three commonly used commercial polymeric materials, namely, Acrylic, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and unplastisised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), was studied experimentally under normal ambient conditions. More specifically, the wear rate and coefficient friction of the materials were evaluated against a mild steel counter disc under three different sliding conditions realised by dry, wet (water) and 5% bentonite-clay water environments, which were then analysed as a function of sliding distance as well as the applied load on the sample. Moreover, in order to visualise the results of the present investigation in a comprehensive manner, the associated major physical and mechanical properties of the materials were also investigated. The vertical pin-on-disc method was used to conduct the study. Both the wear and friction characteristics were strongly linked to the structure of the polymers; HDPE samples being fully crystalline show best wear and friction characteristics, whilst the amorphous Acrylic shows the worst. Optical microscopic analysis of the specimens, particles from the worn surfaces (wear debris) and the counter disc also indicated that Acrylic was most affected by wear, whilst HDPE was least affected. SEM and EDX observations showed that uPVC was most affected by oxidation followed by HDPE and Acrylic. The excellent wear and frictional properties of HDPE, especially, in particle-dense fluid transportation, make it ideal for dynamic applications, particularly with mine debris flows and transporting of slurry.