Experimental and numerical analysis of friction and wear behavior of polycarbonate

Static and kinetic contact of a steel ball against a polycarbonate half-plane was experimentally examined to study its friction and wear behavior. Changes in friction were correlated with the apparent wear volume. The finite element method, using a physically based visco-plastic constitutive model, simulated the initial stage of sliding contact through indentation, sliding and unloading stages. Detailed deformation history was examined to understand the friction and wear mechanisms for the glassy polymeric material. The experimental and numerical results correlated well, qualitatively, in the coefficient of friction and the deformed surface profile.