ENGINEERING POLYMERS AND COMPOSITES FOR MACHINE ELEMENTS

This chapter reviews the use of engineering polymers and short-fibre reinforced thermoplastics for machine elements such as gears, cams and pulleys where the polymers are in non-conformal contact. Both twin-disc testing and gear tests are examined for a variety of engineering polymers as well as the effects of temperature, fibre-reinforcement and geometry on performance. Gear efficiency, failure mechanisms and wear of polymer gears are also covered in detail. Finally polymer gears for high-performance applications are considered together with the effects of external lubrication.