The present study investigates friction and wear of polymeric composites by scratch
test. Polymeric composites consisting of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and
polyethylene (PE) have been filled by sand, aluminum, copper, carbon fibers and
carbon nanotubes. The tribological properties have been determined by scratch test.
The experiments revealed that friction coefficient slightly increased up to maximum
then decreased with increasing the applied load. Filling composites by sand increased
friction coefficient and decreased wear, while copper and aluminum as fillers did not
alter frictional behavior but they increased wear. It was observed that addition of
carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes drastically decreased friction coefficient and
wear. It seems that they provided low shear layer in the in the contact surface of the
tested composites that decreased friction. Besides, their lubricating action decreased
wear.