The application of PEEK in stainless steel fiber and carbon fiber reinforced composites

The mixing ingredient of the semi-metallic friction material – stainless fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) – its hot-molding process, friction performance and wear resistance are studied in this paper. The friction and wear mechanism was analyzed through observing the worn surface morphology by scanning electron microscope (SEM) at different temperatures, and is further confirmed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectrometry (IR) analysis. The results showed that the developed materials have stable friction coefficients and lower wear ratio. The wear mechanism is that the particle abrasion occurs at low-temperature, the adherence abrasion and particle abrasion take place at the temperature between 200 and 350 °C. The transferred layer is formed, and big debris particles of lath-shape and sheet-shape are found on the worn surface. The thermal degradation of the PEEK does not occur until its temperature rises to higher than 350 °C. The stainless steel and carbon fibers bind strongly with the matrix and have good abrasive resistance, improving stability of the friction coefficients of the materials.