Lubrication of polycarbonate at cryogenic temperatures in the split Hopkinson pressure bar

The dynamic friction behaviour of polycarbonate (PC) was investigated at ambient (26°C) and low temperature (−60°C) using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and specimens of varying thicknesses. At ambient temperature, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) were found to be good lubricants, but not as good as petroleum jelly, which reduced friction to zero (within experimental error). In the low-temperature regime, PTFE was not a good lubricant. MoS2 was not as good a lubricant as ice at −60°C. However, again petroleum jelly provided perfect lubrication within experimental error. This was confirmed by a ring upsetting test in a drop-weight apparatus using high-speed photography. The PC used had a glass transition temperature Tg of 422 K as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The intrinsic (zero friction) yield stress of PC in compression at a strain rate of 2500±200 s−1 was found to be 110 MPa at a strain of around 0.1 at 26°C and 175 MPa at a strain of approximately 0.13 at −60°C.