In the last decade, several innovative polymer gel materials with enhanced mechanical proper ties have been invented by
Japanese researches. In 2003, a most effective but simple way was proposed to synthesize double network gels, with
compression fracture stress of about 30MPa, compared to several tens of kPa for common gels. In this study, we evaluate
the wear of a double network gel, both with and without water lubrication. In the un-lubricated experiment, the gel
surface is worn with a stainless steel ball. In the other experiment with water lubrication, the gel surface is worn by
different counter surfaces because the stainless steel ball was too smooth to wear. It was found that frictional vibration of
wear gel is transitioning to steady sliding in lubricated. As conventional reduction method of the friction by the contact
between general solids, there are surface processing such as the texturing, attachment of lubrication materials. In the case
of gel, the minute processing to the surface such as the texturing is difficult, because the gel is soft in comparison with
the hard materials such as the metal. By proceeding with this study, the surface processing of low-frictional gels will be
enabled.
|