Studies of the Influence of Graphite and MoS₂ on the Tribological Behaviors of Hybrid PTFE/Nomex Fabric Composite

Abstract

Hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Nomex (DuPont, USA) composite specimens were prepared with graphite and MoS₂ as fillers. The friction and wear tests were conducted under dry sliding conditions at a speed of 0.26 m/s under various loads and environmental temperatures. The results showed that the incorporation of graphite was effective in reducing the wear of the hybrid PTFE/Nomex fabric composite, whereas the MoS₂ filler was unfavorable for improving the wear resistance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed that MoS₂ was oxidized into MoO₃ during sliding. The absence of the layered structure of MoO₃ resulted in a higher wear rate of fabric composite. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of unfilled and graphite-filled composites and their debris indicated that graphite increased the thermal stability of the unfilled composite and therefore enhanced the wear resistance.

KEY WORDS:

• Fabric
• Solid Lubricants
• Friction
• Wear

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We appreciate the financial support from National Project 973 (Grant No. 2007 CB607601), the Fund for Creative Research Groups (Grant No. 50721062), and the National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 50773089).

Review led by Thierry Blanchet