Initiation and development of wear of an elastomeric surface by a blade abrader

Abstract Experimental work is reported to study abrasion between a metal blade and an elastomeric material. It has been suggested that high frequency “microvibration” and stick-slip oscillation lead to the initiation of cracks and the formation of a distinctive abrasion pattern. Experiments have been performed to test the hypothesis. High frequency microvibration could not be detected prior to the formation of an abrasion pattern but was observed after an abrasion pattern had developed. The spacing in the abrasion pattern was, however, approximately what would be expected from the stick-slip frequency and the sliding velocity.