How does the wear resistance of the POM material of the Transparent Bead Chain improve the product life?

The Transparent Bead Chain uses POM engineering plastic as the material. The most common method to improve the wear resistance of POM is to add self-lubricating materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone oil. Due to the sliding characteristics of its molecular chain, PTFE can form a transfer film at the friction interface, significantly reducing the dynamic friction coefficient. For example, adding 8% by mass of PTFE fiber can reduce the friction coefficient of POM from 0.3 to 0.18, and reduce the wear by more than 50%, thereby reducing the surface loss of the bead chain during the frequent sliding of the roller blind. In addition, liquid lubricants such as silicone oil or mineral oil can form micron-level lubrication channels inside POM through physical blending modification, further reducing the accumulation of friction heat.
Adding glass fiber or carbon fiber can improve the rigidity and wear resistance of POM. The tensile strength of glass fiber reinforced POM material is increased by 30%-50%, and the supporting effect of the fiber during friction can prevent the rapid wear of the matrix material due to local stress concentration. For example, the wear life of 25% glass fiber reinforced POM in roller bead chain applications is 2-3 times longer than that of unmodified materials. In addition, inorganic fillers such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite achieve the "ball effect" of the friction interface through a layered structure, reducing sliding resistance and dispersing the load.
The introduction of nano-scale fillers can significantly improve the microscopic friction behavior of POM. Nano-TiO₂ reduces the direct contact of surface roughness peaks through the rolling effect, and forms a protective oxide layer under high load, reducing the wear rate by more than 40%. The composite modification of SiC and POM matrix can inhibit crack propagation by enhancing the interfacial bonding force and improve the fatigue resistance of the bead chain under long-term cyclic load.
The introduction of fluorine-containing or silicon-containing segments on the POM molecular chain by chemical grafting can form a more stable lubrication interface. For example, the introduction of fluorinated monomers in block copolymers can reduce the surface energy of the material and reduce adhesive wear with metal rails or other accessories. Such modifications enable the bead chain to maintain low friction characteristics in a humid environment and avoid increased wear caused by the adsorption of water molecules.
The high crystallinity of POM is the basis of its wear resistance, but excessive crystallization will reduce toughness. By adjusting the processing conditions, a gradient crystal structure can be formed: the high crystallization area on the surface provides wear resistance, and the low crystallization area in the core absorbs impact energy to prevent the brittle fracture of the bead chain caused by the sudden jamming of the cord.
Adding hollow glass beads can reduce the molding shrinkage of POM, ensure the dimensional accuracy of the bead chain, and avoid uneven friction caused by local deformation. For example, after the dimensional stability of POM material filled with 25% glass beads is improved, the center distance error of the bead chain is controlled within ±0.1 mm, reducing additional wear caused by dimensional deviation.
By bombarding the POM surface with high-energy ion beams, an amorphous carbonized layer is formed, the hardness is increased by 2-3 times, and scratches and abrasive wear are significantly reduced. Spraying polyurethane or ceramic coating can isolate ultraviolet rays and oxygen, delay the photoaging degradation of POM in outdoor use, and avoid the decrease in wear resistance caused by brittle materials. For example, the wear rate of weather-resistant POM with UV absorbers added only increased by 5% after 1000 hours of UV aging, while the wear rate of unmodified materials increased by 30%.
Adding hindered amine light stabilizers and antioxidants can inhibit the breakage of molecular chains caused by UV rays. For example, the light stabilizer system of GW622 and GW944 can extend the service life of POM bead chains to 8-10 years in outdoor sunlight environments, while ordinary POM can only last for 3-5 years. POM itself has a low moisture absorption rate, but in high humidity environments, it is still necessary to add hydrophobic agents to reduce moisture penetration to avoid the degradation of mechanical properties due to hydrolysis. In addition, the heat deformation temperature of glass fiber reinforced POM can be increased to above 160°C, which is suitable for the surrounding environment of high-temperature roller shutter motors.