This article focuses on friction and wear as they relate to polymeric materials, covering friction and wear applications for polymeric materials. The discussion covers the causes and mechanisms of friction, wear, and lubrication; different test methods developed to simulate friction and wear mechanisms; and friction and wear test data used for polymeric materials.

This chapter discusses the effect of friction in the context of design. It explains how friction coefficients are determined and how they are used to make sizing and selection decisions. It covers practical issues associated with rolling friction, the use of lubricants, and the tribology of metal, ceramic, and polymer surfaces in contact. It also discusses the nature of rolling friction and provides helpful design guidelines.

This chapter reviews the types of friction that are of concern in tribological systems along with their associated causes and effects. It discusses some of the early discoveries that led to the development of friction laws and the understanding that friction is a system effect that can be analyzed based on energy dissipation. It describes the stick-slip behavior observed in wiper blades, the concept of asperities, and the significance of the shape, lay, roughness, and waviness of surfaces in sliding contact. It explains how friction forces are measured and how they are influenced by speed, load, and operating environment. It also covers rolling contact and fluid friction and the effect of lubrication.

This chapter discusses the processes and procedures involved in tribotesting, the significance of test parameters and conditions, and practical considerations including test metrics and measurements and the interpretation of wear damage. It also describes the different types of erosion tests in use and common approaches for adhesive wear and abrasion testing.