Effects of soft chain materials on the tribological performances of thermosetting polyurethane under water-lubrication

Polyurethane elastomers are widely used as functional alternative materials in water-lubricated bearing materials. In this study, three kinds of polyurethane elastomers with different soft chains were prepared to investigate the influence of soft chain materials on their tribological properties. The test results show that the specimen with soft chain polyols as propylene glycol has the best wear resistance, and the friction coefficient is only 0.09 at 0.7 MPa. Due to the excellent buried property, the wear debris can be discharged in time, so the surface of the test specimen is relatively flat, which is conducive to the formation of lubricating water film. This study provides the experimental basis for polyurethane as an alternative material for water-lubricated bearings.