Wear behavior of thermally sprayed PET

The use of PET in Brazil has increased significantly during the last decade and so has the demand for its recycling. The combination of good mechanical properties, thermal and chemical stability as well as impermeability to gases make PET a good choice for surface protection of materials. Therefore, thermal spraying is being investigated as both a route to recycle PET and a means to deliver good material protection against corrosion and wear. This paper reports the results of a pin-on-disc wear study of unlubricated PET, used in three conditions: as molded, as HVOF thermally sprayed and as quenched after thermal spraying. The wear process was monitored by friction force and acoustic emission, light and scanning (electron and mechanica) microscopy. The crystallinity of PET was assessed by XRD. The results are discussed to indicate that the coatings have lower friction and wear rates relative to virgin PET.