According to Russian media, experts at the Moscow State University of Science and Technology have developed friction-resistant polymeric materials that can be used in freezing temperatures of no less than minus 80 degrees Celsius. Large-scale mining of minerals in the Arctic requires complex industrial equipment and heavy equipment with large friction units. In the so-called cold zone of Yakutia, a low temperature of 67 degrees Celsius was recorded.
According to the Russian "News" website reported on July 2, the climatic conditions of the Arctic impose stringent requirements on the stability of the equipment. In the case of inconvenient transportation, once the mechanical bearing is damaged due to the cold, it may mean Significant economic losses. It is important for mining agencies to use movable parts in machines that can withstand non-standard environmental tests for long periods of time.
According to the report, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene tape developed by Moscow State University of Science and Technology and Biometrix can be attached to the inside of the metal bearing to act as a friction surface. The new material has a long life and low temperature resistance (only changes at minus 80 degrees Celsius) Characteristics of the traits. High chemical inertness guarantees its environmental friendliness.
The report also states that ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is a type of thermoplastic (which can be softened when heated and hardened again when cooled). This plastic consists of long molecular chains that are capable of efficiently transferring and distributing loads inside the material. High molecular weight polyethylene is currently used in medical prosthetics, and it can be used in the manufacture of bulletproof vests and other fields in the future.
According to the report, the new plastics can also be used in the cladding prefabricated panels of the polar off-road vehicle body and other technical equipment that will be subjected to impact loads. These prefabricated panels will be composed of alternating dense and porous layers. The representative of the Moscow State University of Science and Technology pointed out It is this structure that gives the prefabricated panels maximum impact strength. This material deforms under physical action, but can then be restored to its original shape.
The report also pointed out that the layered structure of the polymer prefabricated panels was borrowed from the organism by the researchers. For example, the human tubular bone has a dense outer layer (bearing the main load) and a porous inner layer.
Fyodor Shinatov, a researcher at the Composites Center of the Moscow State University of Science and Technology, said: 'Russia has experimented with the production of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in Kazan and Tomsk in the past, but it has not continued. Because of this polymer Demand must be at least thousands of tons per year in order to be profitable. I think that if this material can be widely used in the development of the Arctic, this level of demand can be achieved.
Ivan Bespalov, head of the Russian Iron and Steel Institute, said: 'Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is a material with high wear resistance and low friction coefficient. It may be a good idea to use it as a working material for bearings, but only if it is It can solve the problem of attaching polymer to metal well. '