ABSTRACT
Increasing the wear endurance of transport systems reduces the environmental footprint of mining operations; however, their wear mechanisms differ considerably from the commonly studied closed tribosystems. Initially, basic concepts of friction and wear mechanisms in polymers are introduced followed by techniques of friction characterization. Recent results of the authors’ work on fatigue wear of thermoplastic semicrystalline materials under nontransfer film formation conditions, and zinc oxide nanowires interfaces are included. Two novel methods to produce wear-resistant surfaces in polymers are introduced. The influence of interface strength in this type of materials is examined, together with common methods to produce high-strength interfaces including nanocomposites. High-performance dry bearings composites for extreme environmental and corrosive conditions often seen in the mineral industry are presented. Recent studies on wear resistance processes and mechanisms present in natural (bio) systems applicable to transport systems are reviewed.
