Tribological Behaviors of Hybrid PTFE/Nomex Fabric/Phenolic Composite under Dry and Water-Bathed Sliding Conditions

The tribological behaviors of hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Nomex fabric/phenolic composite under dry sliding condition and water-bathed sliding conditions were investigated using a pin-on-disk type tribometer. The results showed that this hybrid fabric reinforced composite exhibited a higher wear rate and a lower friction coefficient under water-bathed sliding conditions compared to that measured under dry sliding condition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated that under water-bathed sliding conditions the transfer films formed on the counterpart pins surface were of high roughness and less PTFE transferred onto the pin surface, compared to that under dry sliding condition. Moreover, the hybrid fabric composite displayed varied tribological behaviors when distilled water-bathed sliding condition and seawater-bathed sliding condition were applied separately.