Friction-related phenomena are synonymous with energy loss and wear. The use of technical coatings can help to minimize these phenomena.
Some specific grades of TTM Coating's coating products are more specifically oriented towards anti-wear. This property is achieved by the addition of fillers or the use of specific binders.
The products that can be used to reduce the coefficient of friction are:
- Coatings based on fluorinated polymers (PTFE, PFA, FEP)
- Graphite, molybdenum disulphide or polyphenylene sulphide coatings.
Advantages:
- dry lubrication, reduction of wear
- increased service life and reliability
- constant performance
- noise reduction
- renewable coating
Examples of applications:
- conveyor elements
- transmission elements (gears, screws, racks, chains, bearings, etc.)
- joints, hinges, ball joints
- springs
Some notions of tribology
When two bodies in contact move, there is a frictional force that counteracts the sliding. The coefficient of friction F can be defined as the ratio of the tangential force T to the normal force supported by the contact N: F = T / N.
The coefficient of friction can be either:
- static, corresponding to the tangential force necessary to create the movement.
- dynamic, corresponding to the tangential force necessary to maintain the movement.
The force and coefficient of friction depend on the nature of the two bodies in contact:
- plastic deformation or abrasion
- shearing of an interfacial film
- shearing of adhesive joints
The coefficient of friction corresponds to an energy loss. Wear is a consequence of friction and occurs in the contact area.
Other special points:
Fretting is a situation in which an oscillating movement of small amplitude occurs between two contacting surfaces leading to wear. Damage caused by this phenomenon is fretting-corrosion (pitting, craters, oxides and debris), scratches, transfers, plastic deformation, underlayer or surface cracking.
Stick-slip, otherwise known as the jamming or stick-slip effect, usually occurs if the dynamic coefficient of friction is higher than the static coefficient of friction. The movement between the two surfaces may then be discontinuous.
