Open Access

ARTICLE

Tailoring Tribological Behavior of PMMA Using Multi-Component Nanofillers: Insights into Friction, Wear, and Third-Body Flow Dynamics

Du-Yi Wang¹, Shih-Chen Shi^1,*, Dieter Rahmadiawan^1,2
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, 25173, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia
* Corresponding Author: Shih-Chen Shi. Email:

Journal of Polymer Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.072263

Received 22 August 2025; Accepted 23 October 2025; Published online 18 November 2025

Abstract

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used in diverse applications such as protective components (e.g., automotive lamp covers and structural casings), optical devices, and biomedical products, owing to its lightweight nature and impact resistance. However, its surface hardness and wear resistance remain insufficient under prolonged exposure to abrasive environments. In this study, a multi-filler strategy with nano-silica (SiO₂), brominated lignin (Br-Lignin), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was employed to enhance PMMA tribological properties. SiO₂ provided localized reinforcement, Br-Lignin established stable network structures, and CNCs improved compactness, enabling strong synergistic effects. As a result, the composites achieved up to 20% higher hardness, a 38% lower friction coefficient, and a 78% reduction in wear rate. Beyond performance metrics, this work advances prior PMMA reinforcement studies by (i) applying third-body flow theory and velocity accommodation mechanisms (VAM) to systematically interpret wear-track morphology and dynamic lubrication processes. These contributions highlight not only the effectiveness of multi-filler design in tailoring tribological behavior but also establish a tribology-driven framework for developing next-generation PMMA composites for durable protective casings and related high-wear applications.

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Keywords

Friction modifiers; antiwear additives; wear mechanisms; polymers

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