Wear behavior of polyamide 11 reinforced with titanate nanotubes

Besides polyamide 11 (PA 11) outstanding properties, wear performance is considered a key factor for its continued widespread use. TiTanate NanoTubes (TTNT) have a huge potential as reinforcement in polymer matrix nanocomposites, and although nanotubes reinforcement capacity is well understood, its effect on tribological characteristics is still an open question. Thus, the present work has as objective to study the wear behavior of PA 11 and its nanocomposites, highlighting TTNT loading, functionalization and sodium content effects. Seeking the possibility to tailor properties, surface topography is investigated. Based on parameter classification, correlation and functional sense, an ideal roughness parameter set is defined. By taking measurements in X- and Y-axis, parameter variations and sensibility are also analyzed. From the results, maximum wear resistance can be reached in functionalized samples with low TTNT loading and high sodium content. Some roughness parameters demonstrate a moderate to strong correlation with wear performance. Parameter variations are mainly attributed to the non-stationarity of the surface.