Friction and Wear in Polymer-Based Materials discusses friction and wear problems in polymer-based materials. The book is organized into three parts. The chapters in Part I cover the basic laws of friction and wear in polymer-based materials. Topics covered include frictional interaction during metal-polymer contact and the influence of operating conditions on wear in polymers. The chapters in Part II discuss the structure and frictional properties of polymer-based materials; the mechanism of frictional transfer when a polymer comes into contact with polymers, metals, and other materials; and controlling the frictional properties of polymer materials. Part III is devoted to applications of polymer-based materials in friction assemblies. It covers composite self-lubricating materials and polymer materials for complexly loaded main friction assemblies. This work may prove useful to specialists interested in the problems of using polymer materials. It also aims to stimulate deeper research into the field of friction and wear in polymer-based materials.

Polymers and polymer composites have been increasinqly used in place of metals for various industries; namely, aerospace, automotive, bio-medical, computer, electrophotography, fiber, and rubber tire. Thus, an understanding of the interactions between polymers and between a polymer and a rigid counterface can enhance the applications of polymers under various environments. In meet ing this need, polymer tribology has evolved to deal with friction, lubrication and wear of polymeric materials and to answer some of the problems related to polymer-polymer interactions or oolymer rigid body interactions. The purpose of this first International Symposium was to introduce advances in studies of polymer friction and wear, especially in Britain and the U.S.S.R. Most earlier studies of the Fifties were stimulated by the growth of rubber tire industries. Continuous research through the Sixties has broadened the base to include other polymers such as nylon, polyolefins, and poly tetra fluoroethylene, or PTFE. However, much of this work was published in engineering or physics journals and rarely in chemistry journals; presumably, the latter have always considered the work to be too applied or too irrelevant. Not until recent years have chemists started to discover words such as tribo-chemistry or mechano chemistry and gradually become aware of an indispensable role in this field of polymer tribology. Thus, we were hoping to bring the technology up to date during this SympOSium, especially to the majority of participants, polymer chemists by training.