Poly-Para-Phenylene-Copolymer (PPP): A High-Strength Polymer with Interesting Mechanical and Tribological Properties

Abstract This paper illustrates the high strength and modulus of a poly-para-phenylene-copolymer in comparison to other high-performance polymers. In particular, it outlines how its microhardness, fracture toughness, scratch resistance and specific wear rate against steel compare to corresponding values of polyether ether ketone. Keywords: mechanical propertiespoly-para-phenylene-copolymerscratch resistancewear The authors are grateful to the companies Ensinger GmbH, Germany, and Solvay Advanced Polymers, USA, who kindly supplied the PPP materials for investigation. Further thanks are due to the King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, for supporting this research collaboration. The help of the German Research Foundation (DFG) for enabling Prof. K. Friedrich to do a preliminary study on the scratch behavior of this material together with Prof. H.-J. Sue, Texas A&M University, USA, also highly esteemed.