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In this study, poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites reinforced with carbon fibers (CFs) and graphite (Gr) were fabricated by compressive molding technology. The friction and wear properties of the PEEK/PTFE composites sliding against Si3N4 balls were investigated using ball-on-disk configuration under dry sliding conditions, and the morphologies of the worn surfaces were also observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a three-dimensional morphometer. The results indicated that the introduction of CFs significantly improved the tribological properties of the composites, but the friction coefficient of the PEEK/PTFE/CFs composites were higher than the pure PEEK/PTFE composites. However, it was found that a combinative addition of CFs and Gr creates an obvious synergetic effect of improving the friction-reducing and anti-wear abilities of the composites. The mechanisms of the improved tribological properties of the PEEK/PTFE/CFs/Gr composites were discussed based on the analysis of the worn surfaces and tribofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work the effect of fiber orientation on the mechanical and tribological properties of SCF (short carbon fibers)/PTFE (poly-tetra-fluor-ethylene)/graphite filled PEEK (poly-ether-ether-keton) composites was studied. The composites were manufactured by using injection molding technique. Mechanical and tribological experiments were conducted to measure the compression modulus, compression strength and wear resistance. A correlation of the tribological and mechanical properties considering different fiber orientations was studied. Additionally to the fiber orientation influence, the wear resistance under low and high pressures was examined. The results analyses, based on scratch experiments and scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspections explain how the fiber orientation influences the mechanical performance and the tribological properties of the considered materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]