Tribological behavior Pure PTFE and PTFE

Composites Material under laboratory simulated

condition.
Aishwarya Bacchav 1, Prof. (Dr.) A.B.Kakade2
1
P.G.Student, Mechanical Engineering, MVPS’s KBT College of Engineering, Nashik, India
2
Professor, Mechanical Engineering, MVPS’s KBT College of Engineering Nashik, Aug 2021


Abstract— Compared to metals and ceramics, polymers and Polymeric composites with high tribological performance are
their composites as tribo materials show more special increasingly used as sliding materials against metallic
characters ,such as light weight, high mechanical performance, counterparts in different fields, such as automotive and space,
corrosion resistance, superior self-lubrication capacity. owing to their distinguished self-lubrication capabilities, high
Especially, the excellent corrosion resistance. The strength-to-weight ratio, ease of manufacturing, and cost
comparative tribological behaviour of Pure PTFE and PTFE effectiveness. Accordingly, they can be extensively employed
with different filler Material was investigated using pin on under dry sliding conditions, where fluid lubrication cannot be
disc apparatus. PTFE material is a Polymer Matrix Composite. used. PTFE is a high performance engineering plastics which
Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) is currently finding increasing is widely used in engineering field, medical field. It is used for
utility in high performance mechanical seals due to its unique manufacturing toys, small gears, wheels, cams, seals and so
properties like high chemical resistivity, low coefficient of many products. Its use as sliding bearing material is now days
friction. However, PTFE exhibits poor wear and abrasion increasing due to its properties such as low coefficient of
resistance, leading to early failure and leakage problems in the friction, high resistivity against temperature, chemically
seals. The wear resistance of PTFE can be significantly neutral, self-lubricating, light weight etc. Its costs compared
improved by addition of suitable filler materials. In this with metallic sliding bearing material is low. But having so
Research we have taken Carbon, Glass and bronze as a filler many good properties the pure PTFE has certain limitations to
material with PTFE. The specimens were prepared by the use as sliding bearing material due to its poor resistance
method of stir casting. This research also studied tribology of against wear and abrasion. Therefore considerable
polymer that is wear and friction of polymer material. Study is experiments have been done to reduce wear damage by
also carried out for Hardness. developing PTFE composites as a bearing material by
reinforcing or filling many additives to pure PTFE in certain
Index Terms— Composite Material, Friction Analysis, proportions. The conventional PTFE fillers are bronze,
PTFE Material, Wear Analysis. graphite, carbon, glass fibers, MoS2 & aluminum nano
1. INTRODUCTION
particles etc. [1]

Prashant Vishwas, Parab and Prof V. L. Firke [1] explain

the review on Polymers and its composites are gaining ground
over metals in the field of engineering applications mainly in
tribology. PTFE is a high performance plastics which is
 widely used in engineering industry due to is properties like
23 Aug 2021
KBT NDMVP Collage of engineering low density, low coefficient of friction, self-lubrication,
[email protected].
resistivity for higher temperatures and chemically neutral. But temperature stability. However, PTFE exhibits poor wear and
pure PTFE exhibits poor wear resistance. abrasion resistance, leading to early failure and leakage
problems in the seals. We have taken Diameter 10 *32 mm
David L. Burris, W. Gregory Sawyer [2], this paper presents
length rod in quantity 3 no’s.[6]
a PEEK filled PTFE composite that exhibits low friction and
2. Carbon Filled PTFE – PTFE carbon contains of 75%
ultra-low wear. It is hypothesized that a synergistic effect
PTFE virgin and 25% carbon fillers. It is available in black
shuts down the dominant wear mechanism of each constituent.
color with a hardness of 60-65 shore D. The carbon fillers
K.Friedrich [3] he concluded that the PTFE and PEEK based
improve the creep resistance, hardness and thermal
composites tested with regard to their friction and wear
conductivity of the PTFE. This material offers excellent wear
behavior in a temperature range between liquid helium and
properties and is particularly suitable for the use in water. It is
room temperature were all suitable for this application.
a standard material for rotational dynamic seals and gaskets in
Nevertheless, there were differences among them as a result of
the hydraulic industry.
the type of polymer matrix and the type of filler combination
used. PEEK matrix composites performed in most of the cases
3. Bronze Filled PTFE - PTFE carbon contains of 60% PTFE
slightly better than corresponding PTFE matrix composites,
virgin and 40% bonze fillers. Hardness is 62-66 shore D. The
except those PTFE compounds that contained bronze particles
addition of Bronze to PTFE gives better dimensional stability
in addition to the other tribo-fillers.
and lowers creep, cold flow and wear. The PTFE with bronze
H. Unal , A. Mimaroglu ,U. Kadıoglu , H. Ekiz [4] discuss
filled composite rod.
that PTFE is a high performance engineering plastics
which is widely used in industry due to its properties of
4. Glass Filled PTFE – PTFE Glass contains of 85% PTFE
self-lubrication, low friction coefficient, high temperature virgin and 15% Glass fillers. Hardness is 58-62 shore D. PTFE
stability and chemically resistant. In fact, PTFE exhibits glass filled rods PTFE 15% Glass Filled White Rod is a high
poor wear and abrasion resistance, leading to early failure performance, synthetic fluoropolymer with the glass fibre
and leakage problem in the machine parts. To minimize this greatly improving characteristics including mechanical
problem, various suitable fillers added to PTFE. strength, wear resistance and compressive properties by as
Y. Wang, F. Yan[5], Transfer films of PTFE/bronze much as 40%. The long term service temperature range of
composites with 5–30% volume content of bronze were PTFE Rod is from -200°C to 260°C and has a short term
prepared using a RFT friction and wear tester on surface of maximum service temperature of 300°C. These PTFE rods are
AISI-1045 steel bar by different sliding time (5–60 min). reinforced with 25% glass fibers.
Tribological properties of these transfer films were studied B. Experimental Setup –
using a DFPM reciprocating tribometer in a point contacting
The TR-20LE, Pin on disc apparatus (up to 200N) represents a
configuration under normal loads of 0.5N, 1.0N, 2.0N and 3.0
substantial advance in terms of simplicity and convenience of
N.
operation, ease of specimen clamping and accuracy of
2. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS measurements, both of Wear & Frictional force. The

A.Material Selected for testing - equipment is designed to apply loads up to 200N & speeds
starting from 200 to 2000 rpm, provision is made only to
1. Pure PTFE – 100 %PTFE- Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE)
conduct tests under dry & heated conditions. This apparatus
is currently finding increasing utility in high performance
facilitates study of friction and wear characteristics in sliding
mechanical components due to its unique properties like high
contacts under different test conditions, sliding occurs
chemical resistivity, low coefficient of friction and high
between the stationary pin and a rotating disc. The normal 1. Clean and dry specimen and disc using solvent.
load, rotational speed & wear track diameter can be varied to
2. Weight specimen and disc individually on weighing scale
suit test conditions. Tangential frictional force and wear are
having accuracy 0.1 mg.
monitored with electronic sensors and recorded on PC. These
3. Insert disc on fixture and tighten screws from sliders to
parameters are available as functions of load and speed.
clamp, ensure the perpendicularity is within +/- 1 to the axis of
rotation.

4. Insert ball to jaw holder, ensure it is sitting properly and

tighten two jaws to hold ball and tighten jaw to specimen
holder.

5. Switch on controller, allow 5 min for normalizing the

display on controller.

6. Press TEST START push button on controller after setting

10 min time on timer display, rotate speed knob till 60 rpm is
displayed, ensure the speed is constant at 60, then press STOP
Fig. 1. Experimental Setup of Pin on Disc Triobometer [9] button. Do not entre speed nob position.

7. Press zero button of normal load, frictional force and wear

The following procedure is describe in manual of pin on disc
on controller
tribometer of DUCOM setup-
8. Open software on PC, select a new file, entrée test
parameters and sample ID on screen and click on START icon
to activate screen to receive data.

9. Add 1 kg dead weight on loading pan to apply normal load.

10. Set timer to 2 hrs. 47 min, 32 sec to achieve 1000 MT

sliding distance.
11. Begin test by pressing on start push button, record the
room temperature and relative humidity.
12. Test stop after completion of test button. The Speed of the experiment has been selected on the basis of
regular speed of bearing shaft. The Regular speed is about 200-
13. Remove specimens, clean off loose wear debris, note the
4000 Rpm. The Engagement speed is 200 Rpm hence to
existence of feature on or near three wear scar such as:
ensure the safety and considering Sample Size, 200 Rpm speed
Protrusions, displayed metals, discolorations, micro-cracking
has been considered.
or spotting.
B) Coefficient of friction –
14. Weigh the specimen and record the loss in weight.

15. The loss in weight is negligible, alternately volume loss µ=( Frictional Force)/(Normal Force)=F
(2)
may be measure. Fn
16. On the bottom disc, no water is observe. We have taken reading on three Sample like PTFE sample no
17. Measure scar on ball using a microscope having list count 1, PTFE sample no 2, PTFE sample no 3 each for 30 min and
0.01mm and magnification100X.Calculate the volume loss we have calculated average for all three sample for time after
using the formula, wear track diameter in mm is equal to every 5 min.
32mm.[15] Average Friction Force for Pure PTFE =

FF 1 sample+ FF 1 sample + FF 1 sample

(3)
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3
In this chapter the results of experimentation are presented in TABLE I

form of data and hence findings and its analysis. It provides Calculated Co-efficient of Friction

the explanation and interpretation of results or observations. Time Coefficient of Friction

The Study of tribological analysis is carried out. The
(Sec) Pure PTFE PTFE + PTFE +
Experimental analysis is done to determine the real time
PTFE + 25% 40% 15%
behavior of material forced wear and co- efficient of friction.
It explains the behavior of material under simulated Carbon Bronze Glass
conditions. filled filled filled
300 0.108 0.172 0.137 0.1130
A) Test Conditions -
600 0.102 0.161 0.129 0.0720
Load in Kg (W) = 1 kg
900 0.095 0.158 0.198 0.0960
The Load has been considered just to verify the suitability of 1200 0.103 0.153 0.197 0.1150
trials on the different composite materials. The Composites are
1500 0.099 0.130 0.195 0.1198
lighter in weight hence considering the same point the load
1800 0.103 0.130 0.199 0.1340
has been considered.
Mean 0.1016 0.150 0.1757 0.1081
Hence Normal Force can be said as,

Normal Force (FN) = load applied in kg X 9.81 The graph showed in figure 2 shows the variation of
(1) coefficient of friction with respect to time from 0 to 30
= 1 X 9.81=9.81 N minutes interval of testing time for all the materials.

Disc Rotation (N) = 200 Rpm.

Sliding Distance = 110 mm.

 0.250 Bronze PTFE Pure PTFE Glass PTFE Time Wear Rate for Different
carbon ePTFE Materials (mm^3/m)
0.200 (Sec) Pure PTFE + PTFE + PTFE +
PTFE 25% 40% 15%
0.150
Carbon Bronze Glass
COF

filled filled filled

0.100
300 1.09E-04 1.21 E-05 1.14E-04 5.66 E-05

0.050 600 5.48E-05 6.03 E-06 5.74E-05 2.83E-05

900 3.65 E-05 4.02 E-06 3.83 E-05 1.88E-05

0.000
300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 1200 2.74 E-05 3.02E-06 2.82 E-05 1.41E-05
TIME(sec) 1500 2.19 E-05 2.41E-06 2.29 E-05 1.13E-05
Fig. 2. Graph of Coefficient of Friction (µ) vs time
1800 1.82 E-05 2.01E-06 1.91 E-05 9.44E-06
For Pure PTFE the behavior of coefficient of friction is
constant throughout the process and is shows the minimum Mean 1.09E-04 1.21 E-05 1.14E-04 5.66 E-05

value among all Material. For Carbon filled PTFE shows

Greater Coefficient of Friction Value but it is constantly 1.40000000E-04
decreasing through the Process up to 30 min. The max 1.20000000E-04
Wear rate (mm^3/m)

coefficient of friction behavior is for Bronze filled PTFE with

1.00000000E-04
40% bronze is continuously increases through the Process.
8.00000000E-05
The Coefficient of friction for 15% glass filed PTFE is
decreasing for first 10 min and then is goes on increasing up to 6.00000000E-05
60 min. 4.00000000E-05
C) Wear Rate – 2.00000000E-05

The volume loss is actually the removed material of pin after 0.00000000E+00
300 600 900 1200 1500 1800
the worn out of the pin.
Time
Weight Loss = Initial mass - Final mass
(4) Fig. 3 Graph of Wear Rate (µ) vs time

The Graph shown in figure number 3 shows that PP for Pure

Calculated weight loss for all three materials and then
PTFE material, BP for 40% bronze filled PTFE, CP for 25%
calculate Mean of three material to calculate wear volume.
Carbon filled PTFE material and GP for 15% glass filled
Average Value of Weight Loss = Weight loss for sample no 1
PTFE. The Bronze filled PTFE shows the lowest wear rate
+ Weight loss for sample no 2 + Weight loss for sample no 3 /
than other material and the graph shows continuously
3
decreasing in nature. The Lowest value of wear rate for
Weight Loss∈Gram Bronze is 1.82 E-05 mm^3/mm. After bronze filled PTFE, the
Wear Volume - (5)
Density∈ grm/mm 3 carbon filled PTFE shows lower wear rate. The Bronze and
Carbon filled PTFE are almost same in nature they shows
Volume loss m 3
Wear rate = (6) nearly same wear rate value, The max Wear is for Pure PTFE
Sliding Distance m
that is 1.14E-04 mm^3/mm.
TABLE II CALCULATED WEAR RATE
3. Hardness of Material –Hardness measurements were 1. The wear resistance of pure PTFE can be
carried out on 6mm thick specimens as per ASTM D224 considerably improved by addition of fillers like
standards on a shore D scale. Indentations were made at graphite, glass fibers, carbon, aluminum, MoS2 and
several locations for each specimen and the average hardness bronze.
value was calculated. The indentation load for each
2. The growing demand for utilizing PTFE in a variety
measurement was 22.5N and hold time was 15s. The variation
of applications, significant effort is needed towards
in the hardness values was within 10% of the average value.
developing novel composite materials by adding one
68 or more non-conventional filler materials possessing
66 the potential of increasing the wear resistance.
Hardness Shore D

64
3. In this Project Material selected for experimentation
62
is Pure PTFE, 25% Carbon filled PTFE, 15% Glass
60 pp
bp filled PTFE, 40 % Bronze filled PTFE and
58
cp
56
experimentation is carried out on Pin on disc
gp
54 tribometer for 30 min at 200 rpm.The size of Pins are

52 Dia 10 *32 mm.

50 4. The comparison of Coefficient of friction is carried out

48 between the four materials. The minimum value of
Material
coefficient of friction is of Pure PTFE and the value
Fig.4.Comparison of Hardness of Material obtained for PTFE with 40% Bronze is highest. The
Fig. 4.5 shows the comparative hardness values of the value of coefficient of friction is varies between0.1 to
composites and the PTFE polymer. It can be seen that addition 0.18.
of filler materials to PTFE causes a significant improvement in 5. The Bronze filled PTFE shows the lowest wear rate
the hardness (up to 19 % increase). In particular, composite than other material and the graph of Bronze filled
(PTFE + 40% Bronze) displayed the maximum hardness, PTFE shows continuously decreasing in nature. The
which more than likely is due to the presence of the bronze Lowest value of wear rate for Bronze is 1.82 E-05
particles. A considerable improvement in the hardness of glass mm^3/mm after bronze filled PTFE, the carbon filled
fiber filled PTFE was observe and the minimum hardness if PTFE shows lower wear rate. The Bronze and
observe in PURE PTFE Material. Carbon filled PTFE are almost same in nature they
4. CONCLUSIONS shows nearly same wear rate value, The max Wear is
The following are the generic conclusions drawn from the for Pure PTFE that is 1.14E-04 mm^3/mm.
present work-
6. It can be seen that addition of filler materials to PTFE
causes a significant improvement in the hardness (up
to 19 % increase). In particular, composite PTFE +
40% Bronze displayed the maximum hardness, which
more than likely is due to the presence of the bronze
particles. A considerable improvement in the
hardness of glass fiber filled PTFE was observe and
 the minimum hardness if observe in PURE PTFE of solid lubrication, Chinese academy of science,
Material. Lanzhou 7300000.17 aug 2018.
7. The wear Volume for PTFE with 40% Bronze is 7. Jaydeep Khedkara, Ioan Negulescub, Efstathios I.
lowest and PTFE with 25% Carbon is moderate Meletisa, Sliding wear behavior of PTFE composites
amongst the three samples. Due to their low density a Materials Science and Engineering Program,
and good wear resistant property, it gives less wear USA,26 sep 2001.
out during the experimental test. The volume of 8. Abdelbary. A, ‘Polymer Tribology’, Alexandria,
weight loss for Pure PTFE is comparatively larger Egypt, University of Alexandria, 20039.
due to its nature and composition. 9. Mr. MB Phatangare. Wear and Friction Monitor,
Army Institute of Technology, Department of
REFERENCES
Mechanical Engineering Dighi Hills, Alandi Road,
1. Aishwarya Bacchav, Dr. A.B.Kakade, A Polymer Pune 411015.
Composite Matrix Overview and Experimental 10. Talat Tevruz, Tribological behaviors of carbon filled
Investigation on Wear and Friction Characteristics of polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE dry .Turkey Received
Pure PTFE Material ,INDIA,2021 23 February 1998; accepted 7 July 1998.
11. Shiguang Penga, Lin Zhanga,1, Guoxin Xiea , Yue
2. Prashant Vishwas Parab, Prof.V. L. Firke, Friction Guob, Lina Sic, Jianbin Luoa, Friction and wear
and Wear Performance of PTFE and its Composites behavior of PTFE coatings modified with poly
J.T. Mahajan College of Engineering Faizpur, (methyl methacrylate, State Key Laboratory of
Jalgaon,vol 5,Issue 09 sep 2009. Tribology, University, Beijing, China, 100084.
12. Reza Gheisari, Andreas A. Polycarpou, Tribological
3. David L. Burris, W. Gregory Sawyer, A low friction performance of graphite-filled polyimide and PTFE
and ultra-low wear rate PEEK/PTFE composite, composites in oil-lubricated three-body abrasive
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace conditions, Texas A&M University, College Station,
Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL TX, USA.
32611, United States, 2 feb 2006. 13. Rahul Kumara, Bastien Malavalb, Maksim
Antonova, Gai Zhaoc, Performance of polyimide and
4. K.Friedrich, Polymer composite for tribological
PTFE based composites under sliding, erosive and
applications, Institute for composite materials,
high stress abrasive conditions, Tallinn, 19086,
technical university Kaiserslautern, Ervin
Estonia.
schroedinger str58,Germany,67663,2008.
14. Fubao Zhang , Jiaqiao Zhang , Yu Zhu, Xingxing
Wang and Yuyang Jin .Microstructure and Properties
5. H. Unal , A. Mimaroglu ,U. Kadıoglu , H.
of Polytetrafluoroethylene Composites Modified by
Ekiz Sliding friction and wear behaviour of
Carbon Materials and Aramid Fibers,Nantong 226019,
polytetrafluoroethylene and its composites under China.
dry conditions, Esentepe Kampusu, Adapazari, 15. Sandip B. Chaudhari, Prof. S.P. Shekhawat, Wear
Turkey,22 april 2003. Analysis of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and it’s
Composites under Wet Conditions, Volume 8, Issue 2
6. Y. Wang, F. Yan, Tribology Properties of transfer (Jul. - Aug. 2013.
film of PTFE based composite, state key laboratory