Wear Behavior of PEEK-Based Composites Designed for Water Lubrication Bearings

The aim of this research was to study the tribological behavior and properties of antifriction polyetheretherketone (PEEK) based composites loaded with solid lubricant particles as well as carbon fibers under both dry friction and water lubrication conditions. The investigated tribological properties varied due to a change in the pattern of the formation and adherence of a transfer film (TF) on the steel counterpart surface. Under the water lubrication conditions, a wear rate increased for the composite loaded with both polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and carbon fibers (CF) due to the suppression of the adherence of a transfer film on the steel counterpart by protruding carbon fibers above the sliding surface, followed by abrasive damage to both rubbed bodies. Therefore, they were not recommended for use in water lubrication bearings. Another composite, loaded with both PTFE and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was suggested for using in such bearings according to the ‘ball-on-disk' scheme under mixed dry friction/water lubrication conditions.