Correlation of polymer wear-debris generation between microscratching and macroscopic wear

Abstract The paper investigates the effect of the tip attack-geometry on wear-debris generation of polymers. Microscratching and pin-on-disk macroscopic wear experiments are carried out to establish the correlation between microscratching and macroscopic wear. Results show that no debris found on PET using a conical tip. However, debris were observed on PET using a cubic corner tip. Furthermore, the specific wear rates of tested polymers agree well with Ratner–Lancaster correlation. However, correlation of the wear rate between microscratching and macroscopic wear shows a reverse relationship which suggests that wear mechanisms of polymers between microtribology and macroscopic wear may exist.