Quantitative characterization of the transfer film morphology of SiO2/PTFE composite

Thickness and coverage rate are the two most important parameters to characterize the transfer film morphology. In this paper, according to the uneven distribution on the transfer film stacking direction (thickening direction), different characteristic values of transfer film thickness in the same observation area were obtained statistically. Meanwhile, optimal thickness which was the most related to wear rate of the SiO 2 /PTFE composite was acquired. The results showed that the transfer film maximum thickness had the best correlation with wear rate of the composite. In our experiment, the greater the maximum thickness of the transfer film, the lower the wear rate; similarly, the greater the coverage rate of the transfer film, the lower the wear rate. • The frictional transfer film of SiO 2 /PTFE composites is layered and distributed unevenly. • The transfer film maximum thickness has the best correlation with wear rate of the composites. • The quantitative relationship between the transfer film morphology and wear rate of SiO 2 /PTFE composite is obtained.