Influence of Weave Structures on the Tribological Properties of Hybrid Kevlar/PTFE Fabric Composites

The existing research of the woven fabric self-lubricating liner mainly focus on the tribological performance improvements and the service life raised by changing different fiber type combinations, adding additive modification, and performing fiber surface modification. As fabric composites, the weave structures play an important role in the mechanical and tribological performances of the liners. However, hardly any literature is available on the friction and wear behavior of such composites with different weave structures. In this paper, three weave structures （plain, twill 1/3 and satin 8/5） of hybrid Kevlar/PTFE fabric composites are selected and pin-on-flat linear reciprocating wear studies are done on a CETR tester under different pressures and different frequencies. The relationship between the tensile strength and the wear performance are studied. The morphologies of the worn surfaces under the typical test conditions are analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The analysis results show that at 10 MPa, satin 8/5 performs the best in friction-reduction and antiwear performance, and plain is the worst. At 30 MPa, however, the antiwear performance is reversed and satin 8/5 does not even complete the 2 h wear test at 16 Hz. There is no clear evidence proving that the tensile strength has an influence on the wear performance. So the different tribological performance of the three weave structures of fabric composites may be attributed to the different PTFE proportions in the fabric surface and the different wear mechanisms. The fabric composites are divided into three regions： the lubrication region, the reinforced region and the bonding region. The major mechanisms are fatigue wear and the shear effects of the friction force in the lubrication region. In the reinforced region fiber-matrix de-bonding and fiber breakage are involved. The proposed research proposes a regional wear model and further indicates the wear process and the wear mechanism of fabric composites.

Sliding Wear of the Hybrid Kevlar/PTFE Fabric Reinforced Phenolic Composite Filled with Nano-titania

The Kevlar/polytetrafluroethylene（Kevlar/PTFE） fabric composite can be used as a self-lubricating liner of the self-lubricating bearing.Many types of nano-particles can improve the tribological performance of the polymer-based composite.Unfortunately,up to now,published work on the effect of nano-particles on the tribological performance of the fabric composite which can be used as a self-lubricating liner is quite scarce.Therefore,for the purpose of exploring a way to significantly improve the tribological performance of the fabric composite,the tribological performance of the Kevlar/PTFE fabric composite filled with nano-titania is evaluated by using the block-on-ring wear tester.The scanning electron microscopy is utilized to observe the morphologies of worn surfaces of the fabric composites and the counterparts.The tensile properties of the composites are evaluated on the universal material testing machine.The test results show that the addition of nano-titania at a proper mass fraction of the matrix resin improves the wear resistance and the tensile strength,decreases the friction coefficient,and makes the wear volume of the composite reach a relative steady state more quickly;plastic deformation and microcutting are important for the wear of the fabric composite;a lubricating layer is formed on the worn surface of the composite during sliding,and the lubricating layer is critical for the tribological performance of the composite;the formation and properties of the lubricating layer are influenced by the nano-titania particles.The proposed study on the effect of nano-titania on the tribological performance of the Kevlar/PTFE fabric composite,especially on the evolution of the worn surface of the composite,provides the basis for further understanding of the influence mechanism of the nano-particles on the tribological performance of the composite and explores a method of improving the tribological performance of the composite.