Effect of testing conditions on friction and wear of a polyetheretherketone-based composite

Friction and wear characteristics of a type of polyetheretherketone (PEEK)- based composite were evaluated under two different loading pressures and sliding speeds (P = 1.0 MPa, V = 1.0 m/s and P=2.0 Mpa, V=3.3 m/s). The material was in contact with steel surfaces of two different roughnesses (Ra=0.15 μm and Ra=0.33 μm). Interface temperature, coefficient offriction, depth wear rate, and specific wear rate of the polymer composite changed considerably with the PV value and the counterface roughness. The interface temperature increased with increasing PV value, whereas the friction coefficient decreased. The depth wear rate at the higher PV value was much higher than that at lower PV. In addition, the rougher counterface resulted in a higher friction coefficient, depth wear rate, and specific wear rate, when the PV value was fixed. The effect of counterface roughness on the specific wear rate at the higher PV value was smaller than that at the lower PV. Further variations in friction and wear with testing conditions are discussed along with the corresponding microscopic observations of the worn polymer surfaces and the polymer transferred counterfaces.