Lubrication performance of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) blend within a steel/steel tribosystem

In this study, lubrication performance of a PEEK/PTFE blend within a steel/steel tribosystem under dry sliding conditions was systematically studied by using a ball-on-ring configuration towards the goal of lubricating steel/ steel contact without using fluid lubricants. The results reveal that the lubrication effect of the PEEK/PTFE blend is strongly dependent on its provisioning rate. After the provisioning rate goes through a transition region between 3 and 5 ng/mm2.rev, the friction coefficient at steel/steel contact drops enormously and reaches a constant level of around 0.3. We explain this improved tribological properties of the system by the existence of a higher specific lubricant film thickness. This novel lubrication approach gains new insight into the lubrication of steel/steel contact, which can pave an alternative route to lubricate steel/steel tribosystems by using polymerbased solid lubricants in service.

Automated summary

This study systematically investigated the lubrication performance of a PEEK/PTFE blend in a steel/steel tribosystem under dry sliding conditions. It was found that the lubrication effect is strongly dependent on the provisioning rate, with a significant drop in friction coefficient at steel/steel contact when the rate is between 3 and 5 ng/mm2.rev, resulting in a constant level of around 0.3. The improved tribological properties were attributed to the higher specific lubricant film thickness, suggesting a novel approach for lubricating steel/steel contact using polymer-based solid lubricants.