Effects of Complex Fillers on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene Composites

This work is devoted to studying the impact of carbon fibers with vermiculite and ultrafine polytetrafluoroethylene on the structure and properties of polytetrafluoroethylene. The mechanical and tribological characteristics of composites based on PTFE was compared depending on the content of carbon fibers. The yield strength and compressive strength improvement with increase of contents carbon fibers of the PTFE was showed. The method of X-ray analysis showed that with by introducing of complex fillers in the PTFE leads to the increasing the degree of crystallinity. PTFE-based composites reinforced complex fillers have shown a significant improvement in wear resistance compared to initial polymer. The study of the worn surface using scanning electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy to describe the tribological behavior of PTFE-based composites was carried out. Using IR spectroscopy, it was revealed that in the process of friction on the worn surface of PTFE-based composites products of tribo-oxidation are formed. It has been established that in the friction process of polymer composite materials, secondary structures are formed on the friction surface of the material, which protects the material from abrasion.