Experimental investigation on triglycidyl isocyanurate‐based tribologically functional composites

Abstract The aim of this study is to prepare epoxy/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/glass fiber (GF) composites (EPGs) with the unique characteristics of low friction and high wear resistance based on triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC). The tribological properties of composites with different filler ratios under different working conditions were systematically studied. At the maximum filler content of 40 wt% PTFE, the minimum coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate reached 0.079 and 0.45 × 10 −6 mm 3 /N·m. The hardness decreased by 44.2% and the density increased by 18.3%. The worn surfaces and transfer films were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The increasing tendency of velocity and amplitude is beneficial to reduce the carbon‐rich region and further enhance the formation of transfer films. It is proved that the tribological properties of TGIC‐based epoxy composites are higher than those of other types of epoxy composites. This study offers great insight into the tribological applications of TGIC‐based epoxy composites. Highlights Epoxy/PTFE/GF composites (EPGs) were prepared using TGIC as the base material. EPGs have good mechanical and tribological properties. The COF of EPG3 reaches 0.079 and the wear rate becomes 0.45 × 10 −6 mm 3 /(N·m). The increasing tendency of velocity and amplitude is beneficial to reduce the carbon‐rich region and further enhance the formation of transfer films.