Performance Improvement of Water-Lubricated Sliding Tribo-Pairs of Nylon Fiber-Based UHMWPE Composite and 304 Stainless Steel Using Surface Microgrooves/Textures

Abstract This article presents experimental and numerical investigations pertaining to the tribological performance improvement of the water-lubricated tribological pairs formed between a nylon fiber-based ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite and SAE 304 stainless steel under sliding motion using surface microgrooves and textures. In this exploration, linear and crossed microgrooves and spherical dimples in textures have been employed at the interfacing surface of composite pins. All the experimental results have been produced using a pin-on-disc configuration at different operating parameters as per the standard ASTM G99-05. Reductions in the values of the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear-rate of the composite have been found in the presence of transverse microgrooves at the pin surface as compared to the conventional case. A mathematical model involving deterministic microgrooves/dimples and stochastic distribution of asperities has been employed to generate the numerical results to validate the experimental findings and develop the overall confidence in the study. A good correlation between experimental and numerical results has been achieved.