Influences physico-chimiques sur le comportement tribologique des résines polyimides

Physical and chemical properties vary with temperature. In a sliding contact between a pair of materials, high speeds can provoke a rise of the temperature of these materials due to the heat produced by friction. Consequently, the increase of temperature can modify physical and chemical properties affecting their tribological behaviour. Tribological tests performed on polyimide resins sliding against austenitic stainless steel indicate that there is a friction transition which is temperature dependent. A wear transition accompanying the friction transition was not observed. The tests were performed during a research campaign developed in order to investigate the behaviour of some pairs of materials which can be used in a tightness or a bearing function for valves in aerospace applications.