Evolution of the low-temperature tribological performance of polychlorotrifluoroethylene and polyimide

In this paper, the tribological performances of polychlorotrifluoroethylene and polyimide compared with those of 0Cr18Ni9 steel at temperatures as low as − 120 °C were investigated, including varying speed and load. The results demonstrated that the coefficient of friction and wear rate of polychlorotrifluoroethylene were lower and more stable than those of polyimide. The excellent self-cleaning performance of polychlorotrifluoroethylene kept its interface smooth and reduced the coefficient of friction and wear rate. The study demonstrated the superior integrity and sealing performance of polychlorotrifluoroethylene in cryogenic environments, and proved its suitability as a valve component at low temperatures.