Casting of regulable nanostructured transfer film by detaching nanofiller from the composite into the tribosystem – A strategy to customize tribological properties

This work aims to investigate the effects of load condition induced and nanosilica-rich tribofilm that tribo-sintered on the steel counterbody on the tribological performance of the PEEK-based composite. It reveals that high load condition is favourable for encapsulating the detached nanosilica and promoting the formation of even, thick, and robust tribo-sintered tribofilm, which possesses outstanding lubricating ability and long lifetime. Transfer film tribo-sintered at 8 MPa and 4 m/s reduces the COF by 29.6% and specific wear rate by 43.7%, respectively. Morphologies analysis shows that high load condition promotes the coating of polymeric debris and crushing of accumulated nanosilica on counterbody surface, which benefits the embedding of nanosilica into the sintered tribofilm that significantly reduces the severe friction and wear.