A new technology developed at Omsk State Technical University (OmSTU) allows increasing the service life of polymer composite parts used in the oil and gas industry by three times. This was reported by the university`s press service.
Polymer composites are multi-component materials based on various types of plastics, widely used in the modern oil and gas sector. They are utilized to manufacture leak-preventing piston rings and seals for pipelines, as well as components operating under high pressure.
However, under conditions of high loads and aggressive environments, such elements quickly wear out, according to scientists from OmSK State Technical University (OmSTU). The researchers have created a technology that, they claim, significantly extends the service life of these parts. It is based on combining two physical influences during the pressing process: ultrasonic vibrations and low-frequency vibration.
As explained by the university, the conventional method for producing polymer composites involves mechanically mixing the filler with the polymer matrix, pressing, and subsequent sintering. However, this traditional approach results in uneven distribution of strengthening particles, which limits the material`s ability to resist friction and wear.
The method proposed by OmSTU scientists ensures a denser packing of the composite mixture and a more uniform distribution of particles, thereby improving the operational performance characteristics of the products.
«Our method, through the combination of vibration and ultrasonic oscillations, promotes the uniform distribution of reinforcing particles that bond with the polymer matrix during sintering. As a result, micro-protrusions are formed on the surface during the operation of the part, slowing down the wear of the material,» stated Vitaly Putintsev, Associate Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Technology at OmSTU.
Research results have demonstrated that the wear resistance of composites produced using the developed technology is increased threefold.
The unique aspect of the development lies in the use of a special generator created by OmSTU scientists in collaboration with an industrial partner. The pressing technology itself was patented in 2019. According to the university scientists, this technology has no analogues in Russia.
Currently, the scientists are focused on the task of rationally designing polymer composite materials to enable effective selection of composition and technological parameters for producing the materials.
The research is supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation as part of research project No. FSGF–2024–0003.
