The worldwide trend in design for more compact and lighter parts has long been implemented in Automotive and E&E applications. A direct result of this approach is the continuing reduction in weight and size of components accompanied by ever increasing operating temperatures.
All these developments place an increasingly higher demand on the parts that are used in these market segments. For parts such as gearwheels, sliding bearings and bushings, the wear on the part itself and on the counter materials must be restricted to a minimum. Where the imposed requirements reach such a high performance level, aramid fibers can make an essential contribution to restricting friction and wear. This article discusses the changes in properties, in particular with regard to frictional resistance and the enormous reduction in wear, which can be achieved by adding aramid to PA66. Various methods have been developed over time for reducing the friction and wear in commonly used plastics materials like PA, POM, PBT and PC.