Mechanical and wear behaviour of PEEK, PTFE and PU: review and experimental study

Abstract Soft polymers such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyurethane (PU) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have gained significant research interest in the last few decades owing to their excellent material properties which can be harnessed to meet the demands of various applications such as biomedical implants and accessories, insulation panels to cooking utensils, inner coating material for non-stick cookware etc. In the present study, we provide a comprehensive review on the mechanical and tribological behaviour of PEEK, PU and PTFE polymers. Samples of these materials were also fabricated and the experimentally obtained tensile strength, flexural strength, wear rate and coefficient of frictions were ascertained with values reported in literature. It is highlighted that coefficient of friction of polymers were highly dependent on the surface texture of the polymer’s surface; where an uneven surface exhibited higher coefficient of friction. Perspectives for future progress are also highlighted in this paper.