Title
Turning waste into performance: the tribological potential of fruit pits reinforced polyamide composites
Authors
[ 1 ] Instytut Maszyn Roboczych i Pojazdów Samochodowych, Wydział Inżynierii Lądowej i Transportu, Politechnika Poznańska | [ 2 ] Instytut Technologii Materiałów, Wydział Inżynierii Mechanicznej, Politechnika Poznańska | [ P ] employee
Scientific discipline (Law 2.0)
[2.7] Civil engineering and transport[2.7] Civil engineering, geodesy and transport[2.9] Mechanical engineering
Year of publication
2025
Chapter type
poster
Publication language
english
Keywords
EN
- agricultural wastes
- coefficient of friction
- adhesive wear
- block-on-ring test
- polyamide (PA)
Abstract
EN In recent years, there has been a dynamic development of materials used in tribological applications, particularly in the context of sustainable development trends. The use of composite materials with matrices composed of polymers, metals, and ceramics has significantly improved process efficiency, reduced operating costs, and extended the lifespan of mechanical components. By utilizing composites, individual components can be selected to tailor the resulting material for specific applications, such as improving mechanical properties or reducing the coefficient of friction. The use of waste materials as fillers/reinforcements to obtain composites with desired tribological properties, which could serve as an alternative to traditionally used fillers, offers several advantages: ecological benefits from converting waste into raw materials, improved mechanical and tribological properties, and economic benefits due to lower production costs and longer service life (reduced wear rate). Poland, as one of the largest producers of stone fruits in Europe, particularly cherries and plums, faces not only challenges related to their sale and processing but also the issue of waste management, including fruit pits. Every year, thousands of tons of pits are generated in the fruit industry as a byproduct of juice, jam, frozen fruit, and other processed food production. Improper storage of these pits can lead to environmental issues, such as decomposition and methane emissions, as well as pose a threat to local ecosystems if not properly disposed of. However, fruit pits can be a valuable raw material that, with proper management, can have various applications, including tribological uses. In the research described in this study, composites were produced with a polymer matrix—polyamide—and agricultural waste materials as fillers: depending on the variant, 15% ground plum pits with a granulation of 200-400 μm and 15% ground cherry pits with a granulation of 200-400 μm. The composites were subjected to friction tests using the block-on-ring system under dry friction conditions, with a counter-sample made of AISI 1045 steel at a speed of 150 rpm. Each test lasted 30 minutes, with a load of 250 N. The study showed that the coefficient of friction for the variant containing ground plum pits did not differ from the control sample (pure polymer), whereas the composite containing ground cherry pits exhibited a 9% lower coefficient of friction compared to the control. The lower coefficient of friction may be attributed to the possibility of “squeezing out” residual fatty acids, indicating a potential self-lubricating effect. Such biocomposites could serve as an alternative to currently used materials, such as polymer bearings.
Pages (from - to)
113 - 113
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publisher's website
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final published version
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