Enhancing the dry sliding wear resistance properties of POE composites by adding silicone masterbatch

Purpose Elastomers exhibit excellent elasticity and ease of processing, which makes them suitable for use in the field of mud-conveying materials. However, their inherent abrasion resistance limits their application. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design an elastomeric material that possesses excellent wear resistance properties while maintaining the ease of processing characteristic of conventional elastomers. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, polyolefin elastomer (POE)/silicone masterbatch (SM) composites were prepared by the hot-pressed sintering method, and the effects of SM content and counterpart materials on the tribological properties of composites were investigated by ball-on-disk tribology experiments. Findings Results showed that the addition of SM could effectively increase the lubricating and wear resistance properties for the composite; the friction coefficient is reduced by 35%–90%; and the wear rate is reduced by 35%–95% compared with that of pure POE materials. For the effect of coupled materials (GCr15, 440C and Si3N4), composites presented the lowest coefficient of friction and wear rate when coupled with a 440C ball. The wear mechanisms for composites under various testing conditions are analyzed based on the composition and morphologies of the worn surface. Research limitations/implications The inherent strength deficiencies of the POE matrix fundamentally restrict the tribological properties of POE/SM composites. To overcome this limitation, subsequent studies will prioritize matrix reinforcement via advanced polymer blending strategies to achieve enhanced wear-resistant performance. Originality/value The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the material can be processed at the temperature of 135 °C and can be produced in conventional plastic processing lines. The knowledge obtained herein will facilitate the design of POE matrix composites with promising self-lubrication performances. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2025-0045/