INFLUENCE OF SOLID LUBRICANT FILLERS ON THE TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF PEEK COMPOSITES IN VACUUM

PTFE containing composites are proven materials for tribological applications in vacuum environment. With the addition of solid lubricants their friction and wear behaviour can be further improved. In particular MoS2 has a friction coefficient as low as 0.03 in vacuum. Thus the tribological behaviour of MoS2 filled PEEK/PTFE composites was investigated in comparison to graphite filled materials. Results of high-vacuum friction tests of carbon fibre reinforced PEEK composites filled with PTFE, and MoS2 or graphite as further solid lubricant are presented. Polymer samples were tested in pin-ondisc configuration continuously sliding against CrNisteel. Depending on sliding speed and temperature, the MoS2 filled composites showed high wear resistance and friction coefficients as low as PVD coatings.