Tribological behavior of poly(ether ether ketone) composites filled with potassium titanate whiskers sliding in different media

The friction and wear properties of poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) composites filled with potassium titanate whiskers (PTWs) under alkali, water, and dry conditions were investigated. The wear mechanisms in different lubrication situations were studied on the basis of examinations of the worn and counterpart surfaces with scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The results showed that PTWs could obviously increase the wear resistance and reduce the friction coefficient of the PEEK composites under dry sliding conditions. Only when the PTW content was greater than 35 wt % did the wear resistance and friction coefficient deteriorate. Sliding in water caused increases in the wear rate and friction coefficient of the PEEK composites, and the PTW - filled PEEK composites showed the highest friction coefficient and wear rate under this lubrication condition. On the contrary, sliding in an alkaline solution, the PTW - filled PEEK composites showed the lowest friction coefficient and almost the same level of wear resistance as that found under the dry condition. Furrows and abrasive wear were the main mechanisms for the PTW - filled PEEK composites sliding in water. The transfer onto the counterpart rings was significantly hindered with sliding under water and alkali conditions.