Tribological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites filled with differently surface
treated carbon fibers (CF), sliding against GCr15 steel under dry sliding conditions, were investigated on a
block-on-ring M-2000 tribometer. Experimental results reveal that rare earths (RE) surface treatment reduces
the friction and wear of CF-reinforced PTFE (CF/PTFE) composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
investigation of worn surfaces of CF/PTFE composites shows that cracks or pores are visible on the worn surfaces
of untreated and air-oxidated composite, while no crack and very few pores present on the worn surface of REtreated
composite. The fiber-friction-angling effect makes carbon fibers angled and oriented along the frictional
shearing force, and finally parallel to the friction surface, which makes interfacial adhesion become a key factor
to tribological properties of CF/PTFE composite. With strong interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber and
PTFE after RE surface treatment, carbon fibers are not easily detachable from the PTFE matrix in the process
of fiber-friction-angling, which prevents the rubbing-off of PTFE, and accordingly improves the friction and wear
properties of the composite.
SHANGGUAN Qian-qian1,2 (上官倩芡), CHENG Xian-hua1 (程先华)
. Investigation on Mechanism of the Improvement in
Tribological Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced
Polytetrafluoroethylene Composites by Surface Treatment[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Science), 2012
, 17(4)
: 490
-493
.
DOI: 10.1007/s12204-010-1083-2
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