Effect of temperature on the tribological properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene/Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites

The Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites have been widely used as self-lubricating materials owing to their excellent properties. In this study, the tribological properties of PTFE/Kevlar fabric composites under different temperatures (25-150 degrees C) were studied showing the lowest wear rate and friction coefficient at 75 degrees C. The effect of temperature on wear behavior of fabric/phenolic composites was revealed through the analysis of friction surfaces, wear debris, and transfer films. To be specific, the improvement of tribological properties occur in a temperature range of 25-75 degrees C being predominantly caused by the abrasive wear, whereas in the range of 75-150 degrees C, the tribological properties decreased because of the adhesive wear. According to this phenomenon, the friction and wear test of the fabric composite after pre-grinding at 75 degrees C shows a great improvement of coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate about 30%. The study of the wear behavior at different temperatures is important for the application and properties improvement of self-lubricated composites.

Automated summary

The tribological properties of PTFE/Kevlar fabric composites were studied under different temperatures, and it was found that the lowest wear rate and friction coefficient occurred at 75 degrees C. The study revealed that temperature had an effect on the wear behavior, with abrasive wear being predominant at 25-75 degrees C and adhesive wear being predominant at 75-150 degrees C.