Development of Antifriction Materials Based on Polytetrafluoroethylene Filled with Binary Fillers

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the study of polymer composite materials (PCM) based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filled with carbon fibers (CF) and ultrafine polytetrafluoroethylene (UPTFE). Physic-mechanical and tribological characteristics of PTFE based polymer composite materials containing 1–10 wt.% CF+1 wt.% UPTFE have been studied. Simultaneous introduction of carbon fibers and UPTFE in PTFE causes the deformation-strength characteristics to remain at the level of those of the polymer matrix regardless of the CF content. Increased content of carbon fibers in UPTFE increases the stress during compression and decreases the PCM density. Wear resistance increases up to 310 fold, and the coefficient of friction of polymer composites decreases by 17–19% compared to that of the initial polymer. The results of the study of polymer composites by XRD analysis and scanning electron microscopy are presented. Introduction of fillers in PTFE changes the supramolecular structure, which is followed by an increased degree of crystallinity. The developed materials are promising for use in friction units of machinery and equipment.