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.

A New Elliptical Cross-Section Mathematical Model of Woven Fabric Based on Jacobian Transformation

In order to give a true reflection of the spatial structure of woven fabric, a circular mathematical model is established based on the Peirce's model and the principle of the coordinate transformation. The circular model uses arcs and tangent lines as the yarn flexion shape and selects the circle as the yarn cross-section. Then, a new elliptical cross-section mathematical model is rapidly built by the Jacobian transformation of the circular model. The Matlab software is used for the 3D simulation. It is shown that 3D simulations of woven fabrics with different weft and warp yarn counts, weft and warp densities, structure phases, weaves and flattening coefficients are successfully realized by Matlab basing on the elliptical mathematical model.

Effects of Friction Heat on the Tribological Properties of the Woven Self-lubricating Liner

In the dry-sliding process of the woven self-lubricating liner which is used in the self-lubricating spherical plain bearing, the friction heat plays an important role in the tribological performances of the liner. It has important value to study on the relationship between tribological performances of the liner and the friction heat. Unforttmately, up to now, published work on this relationship is quite scarce. Therefore, the effect of friction heat on the tribological performances of the liner was investigated in the present work. The tribological behaviors of the liner were evaluated by using the high temperature end surface wear tester. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） was utilized to examine the morphologies of worn surfaces of the liner and study the failure modes. Differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） measurement and X-ray diffraction （XRD） analysis were performed to study the behaviors of the wear debris. The temperature rise on the worn surface was calculated according to classical models. SEM observation shows that the dominating wear mechanism for the liner is mainly affected by friction shear force, contact pressure and friction heat. Higher fusion heat for the wear debris than that for the pure polytetrafluroethylene （PTFE） indicates that the PTFE is the main portion of the wear debris, and, the PTFE in the wear debris shows a higher crystallisation degree owing to the effects of friction shear force and the friction heat. Combining the calculated temperature rise results with the wear rate of the liner, it can be concluded that the effects of temperature rise o n the tribological performances of the liner become more obvious when the temperature rise exceeds the glass transition temperature （Tg） of the PTFE. The wear resistance of the liner deteriorates dramatically when the temperature rise approaches to the melting point （Ton） of the PTFE. The tribological performances of the liner can be improved when the temperature rise exceeds Tg but is far lower than Ton- The present study on the relationship between the temperature rise and the tribological performances of the liner may provide the basis for further understanding of the wear mechanisms of the liner as well as the relationship between the formation of the PTFE transfer film and the friction heat during the dry-sliding of the Finer.