Temperature dependence of the tribological mechanisms of amorphous PEEK (polyetheretherketone) under dry sliding conditions

In this work, the effect of temperature on the tribological behavior and mechanism of an amorphous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) coating was studied using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The temperature proved to play an important role on the tribological characteristics and the crystalline structure transition of the PEEK. Before crystallization of the PEEK, the friction coefficient and wear rate increase with increasing temperature. In this case, a stick–slip motion between the two counterparts, together with the strain-hardening effect of the PEEK surface layer, results in a periodic material stack on the worn track. The PEEK exhibits the biggest friction coefficient, but the smallest wear rate at a temperature slightly higher than the PEEK crystallization point. Under this condition, fatigue plays an important role on the wear mechanism.