Friction and wear behavior of self-lubricating and heavily loaded metal–PTFE composites

A new 16 MnNb steel–PTFE composite (A) containing 60% area proportion of PTFE composite was developed. Another type of common solid lubricant embedded C86300 bronze–PTFE composite (B) containing 35% area proportion of PTFE composite was also selected for a comparative investigation under similar testing conditions. Friction and wear experiments were performed in an oscillating sliding tribotester at an oscillating frequency of 0.13 Hz, contact mean pressures from 15 to 80 MPa and counterface roughness of 0.10 μm Ra. The composites A and B slid against a 38CrMoAlA steel shaft. Results showed that the composite A exhibited low coefficient of dry friction and long wear life as compared to that of the composite B. It was found that the surface of PTFE composite was higher than that of steel backing at the intervals of testing. This was because modulus of the elasticity of PTFE composite was much lower than that of 16 MnNb steel backing; under a same load condition the elastic deformation amount of PTFE composite was much bigger than that of steel backing. Thus, the composite A provided sufficient lubrication during the whole tests.