A comparative study on mechanical integrity and tribological performance of innovative 3D fabric liners versus conventional 2D fabrics

Abstract Fabric-reinforced lubricating bearing liners used in aerospace and heavy machinery applications must endure severe wear and high thermal loads. To address these challenges, this study introduces an innovative three-dimensional (3D) fabric liner structure specifically designed for lubricating applications. The liner is composed of aramid fiber (AF) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), both of which are chosen for their superior mechanical strength and thermal resistance. Compared with their conventional two-dimensional (2D) counterparts, the newly developed 3D AF/PTFE composite exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical performance and a 44% reduction in the wear rate. These improvements are primarily attributed to the excellent structural integrity and heightened interlaminar shear strength of the composite. These findings suggest that 3D AF/PTFE fabrics offer substantial promise as continuous thermal conduction substrates in various applications.