Friction Characteristics of Aluminized Polyester Fabric under Dry - and Water- Lubricated Conditions

Materials made from plastics are increasingly utilized in constructing greenhouses and setting up shield structures. Polyester fabrics have a wide range of use in horticulture and other fields of agriculture. They are utilized as a greenhouse cover and also help in combating intense climate variation in the field. Over time, these fabrics may experience friction against other surfaces. Owing to this, the surface framework of the material degenerates. This study examines the frictional characteristics of aluminized polyester fabric in both dry- and water-lubricated environments under changing applied loads and sliding speeds. Friction experiments are performed at room temperature by employing a pin on a disk. The experiments reveal that the friction coefficient decreases with increase in applied load in both dry sliding and water-lubricated environment. However, the friction coefficient decreases more under the water-lubricated setting than in the dry state. At the maximum applied load, the highest friction coefficient is discovered in the dry state with a range of 0.282 to 0.237, whereas a friction coefficient of 0.229 to 0.189 is observed in the water-lubricated state. Additionally, it is observed that the friction coefficient increases with an increase in sliding speed under both experimental environments. The examination of specimen surfaces reveals that the abrasion is minor in the water-lubricated setting compared with that in the dry state.