A study of tribological and mechanical properties of PTFE composites filled with surface treated K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker

K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker was modified with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), fluorosurfactant (FSK), and silane coupling agent (KH-550), respectively. The surface energy of K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker was calculated based on Van Oss-Chaudhury-Good function. Then the influence of surface modification on the tribological and mechanical properties of K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites was studied. Surface energy calculation shows that the surface energy of OTS-treated K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker is only 29.0 mJ/m ², which is the closest to the value of pure PTFE. Among all samples, the PTFE composite filled with OTS-treated K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker shows the best antiwear property, tensile strength, and impact strength, which is about 19 to 33%, 15 and 55% higher than that of untreated K ₂Ti ₆O ₁₃ whisker filled PTFE, respectively.