Morphology evolution of multilayer transfer films and its relationship with silica content

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the formation and evolution laws of multilayer transfer films, and reveal the interlayer adhesion mechanism that loses contact with the metal counterface. Design/methodology/approach The tribological properties of silica/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites were tested by rotating pin-on-disk wear tester, the morphology of multilayer transfer film was observed by 3D laser scanning microscope, and the composition of transfer film was analyzed through Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Findings The results showed that the multilayer transfer film was formed by the continuous accumulation of debris on the already formed film, and water molecules promoted the growth of this structure. When the silica content was 20 Wt.%, the transfer film had good antiwear ability. That is to say, the number of layers and the first layer coverage increased to 4 and 80%, while the top layer coverage decreased to 5%. At this point, the wear rate of the silica/PTFE composites decreased by about 57%. Originality/value This work will help to gain a deeper understanding of the formation mechanism of transfer films and their effects on the wear behavior of PTFE composites, which is of great significance for enriching frictional theory. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2025-0185/