Lubrication performance of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) blend within a steel/steel tribosystem

In this study, lubrication performance of a PEEK/PTFE blend within a steel/steel tribosystem under dry sliding conditions was systematically studied by using a ball-on-ring configuration towards the goal of lubricating steel/steel contact without using fluid lubricants. The results reveal that the lubrication effect of the PEEK/PTFE blend is strongly dependent on its provisioning rate. After the provisioning rate goes through a transition region between 3 and 5 ng/mm2·rev, the friction coefficient at steel/steel contact drops enormously and reaches a constant level of around 0.3. We explain this improved tribological properties of the system by the existence of a higher specific lubricant film thickness. This novel lubrication approach gains new insight into the lubrication of steel/steel contact, which can pave an alternative route to lubricate steel/steel tribosystems by using polymer-based solid lubricants in service.