Effect of Glass Bubbles on Friction and Wear Characteristics of PDMS-Based Composites

The purpose of this study is to improve the mechanical durability and surface frictional characteristics polymer/ceramic-based composite materials. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/glass bubble (GB) specimens are prepared at various weight ratios (PDMS:GB) by varying amount micro-sized GBs added PDMS. surface, mechanical, tribological PDMS/GB composites evaluated according GBs. changes in internal stress indentation depth after contacting with a steel ball tip bare PDMS having different GB densities compared through finite element analysis simulation. elastic modulus proportional content, while friction coefficient generally decreases as content increases. A smaller results more damage than PDMS, but significant reduction wear rate achieved when ratio PDMS:GB greater 100:5.