Effects of solid lubricants on friction and wear properties of Nomex fabric composites

The Nomex fabric composites filled with the particulates of PTFE, MoS2 and graphite, respectively, were prepared by dip-coating of the Nomex fabric in a phenolic resin containing the particulates to be incorporated and the successive curing. The friction and wear behaviors of the pure and filled Nomex fabric composites sliding against AISI-1045 steel in a pin-on-disk configuration were evaluated on a Xuanwu-III high temperature friction and wear tester. The structure of the composites, and the morphologies of the worn surfaces or of the counterpart steel pins of the composites were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the filler of PTFE significantly improved the wear resistance and decrease the friction coefficient of the Nomex fabric composites, but the MoS2 and Graphite as fillers were harmful to the improvement of friction and wear behaviors of Nomex fabric composites. The bonding strength between the Nomex fabric, the filler and the adhesive resin of the Nomex fabric composites varied with the types of the particulate fillers, and with characteristics of the transferred layers formed on the counterpart steel pins, largely accounted for the different friction and wear behaviors of the pure and different solid lubricants-filled Nomex fabric composites. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.