Morphological study of the wear of crystalline polymers II: Isotactic poly(propylene)

Abstract The morphology of the worn surface and wear debris of isotactic poly(propylene) (PP) slid against steel in air and water was studied. From electron micrographs, electron diffraction patterns and X-ray diffraction patterns it was found that both the worn surface and the wear debris had a smectic structure. Plastic deformation of the surface of PP took place during frictional contact both in air and in water, giving rise to the formation of thick meandered fibrous aggregates with their longitudinal axes nearly perpendicular to the sliding direction and thin fibrils aligned parallel to the sliding direction.