Fabrication of micro-structured surface of plants-derived polyamide using femtosecond laser and their frictional properties

For the purpose of developing the new polymeric tribomaterials using biopolymer, the fabrication of micro-structured surfaces of plants-derived polyamide (PA) using femtosecond laser and their frictional properties were investigated. In this study, the effect of processing parameter such as laser power, laser speed and pitch distance on the fabrication of micro-structured surfaces of polyamide 66 (PA66) and plants-derived polyamide 1010 (PA1010) was investigated experimentally, and their frictional properties and wettability were evaluated. Polyamides (PA1010 and PA66) were extruded by a twin screw extruder and injection-molded to 30mm × 30mm × 3mm sheet. The micro-structured surfaces on the polyamides were fabricated by femtosecond laser. The micro-structured surfaces on the polyamides by laser fabrication were observed by laser microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Frictional properties were measured by a ball on plate reciprocating type sliding wear tester under lubrication conditions. It was found that the surface microchannels are able to be fabricated by the femtosecond laser and have a good effect for the improvement of the frictional properties and wettability of PA66 and plants-derived PA1010. Laser power influences strongly on the microchannels size, wettability and frictional properties. This may be attributed that the micro-structured surface plays an important role in the key components for the polymeric tribomaterials. © 2016 Author(s).MEXT, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technolog