Correlation between friction and wear of rubber: An experimental approach based on the disconnections of stribeck curves

Automotive tire industries demand design criteria that draw high-friction and low-wear rubber characteristics since rubber tires with excellent grip and long life derive high social values for our safety and sustainability. However, the correlation between friction and wear of rubber remains to be fully understood. One of the difficulties is that rubber friction consists of adhesive and hysteresis friction. This study conducted friction and wear tests for lubricated sliding contacts between rubber and rigid probes to solve this problem. First, focusing on the disconnections of Stribeck curves with different lubricant viscosities determined adhesive and hysteresis friction values (friction tests). Then, observing worn rubber topography classified wear modes and their growth on macroscopic and microscopic scales (wear tests). Finally, analyzing the above test results clarified the correlation between friction and wear of rubber. This approach concluded that significant wear (i.e., macroscopic abrasive wear and microscopic abrasion patterns) occurs when adhesive friction is high, regardless of hysteresis friction. This correlation between friction and wear of rubber suggests that achieving low adhesive and high hysteresis friction leads to the desired characteristics for automotive tires.