High performance polymer Zedex-100K based on polyethylene terephthalate: physical, mechanical and operational properties
The object of research is a composite material, called ZEDEX-100K, based on polyethylene terephthalate with a complex of fillers made from mineral additives based on rare earth metals, when interacting with them in a special reactor, the structure of the polymer matrix and the physical and mechanical properties of the material change. The purpose of the work is to study the physical and mechanical characteristics of a composite material based on polyethylene terephthalate, used for the manufacture of wear-resistant sliding bearings, as well as to determine the performance characteristics of stern tube bushings made from this material. Method. The main physical and mechanical characteristics of the material under study were determined experimentally. Stern tube bushings made of ZEDEX-100K material passed a full-scale wear test. Results. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the ZEDEX-100K composite material were experimentally established: average density - 1327 kg/m3, water absorption by mass - 0.07%, Shore D hardness - 80 units, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity - 62 MPa and 2894 MPa , respectively, the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity in bending are 83 MPa and 2577 MPa, respectively, the compressive strength is 52 MPa, the compressive strength after exposure to diesel fuel for 30 days is 43 MPa and the compressive strength after exposure in sea water for 5 months - 31 MPa. The flexural strength is 34% and 60% higher than the tensile strength and compressive strength, respectively. The compressive strength decreased by 17% and 40% after exposure to diesel fuel for 30 days and exposure to seawater for 5 months, respectively. The maximum permissible wear of the 4.5 mm bow tube bushing and stern tube bushing installed on the Vagis tugboat will occur at 39000 hours of total operating time in the stern and 32500 hours in the bow of the vessel.