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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/aramid fabric composites are currently widely used as self-lubricating bearing liners. In this study, a PTFE composite coating was performed to improve the friction stability of the PTFE/aramid fabric composite in long-term friction. Effects of the surface modification on the composite tribological properties were studied using ball-on-disk friction tests. Results showed that under different sliding condition, the friction coefficient of the modified and unmodified fabric composite were similar after sliding of 240 min. However, the friction coefficient curves of the unmodified fabric composite increased first, then decreased, and then increased, while that of the modified fabric composite increased first and then stabilized. At a sliding speed of 4.5 m/min and load of 50 N, the unmodified fabric composite worn out at ~200 min, but the modified fabric composite was still stable after 240 min. SEM results confirmed that the PTFE composite coating had a good film forming property, which improved the wear resistance and friction stability of the composite in long-term friction especially under high sliding speed. These results give a reference for the development of self-lubricating plain bearing liners with long lifespans.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the tribological behavior and wear mechanism of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/polyester (PET) fabric composite for application as a self-lubricating liner suitable for high-speed and low-load friction conditions. Design/methodology/approach The effects of different loads and sliding speeds on the friction coefficients and wear characteristics of the composite were studied using reciprocating friction tests. Scanning electron microscopy, extended depth-of-field microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry was used to analyze the worn surface morphology, wear depth and elemental content of the lubrication films, respectively. Findings The friction coefficient curves of the composites presented a long-term steady wear stage under different sliding conditions. With increasing sliding speed, the friction coefficient and wear depth of the composite slowly increased. The film-forming mechanism of the composite revealed that the PTFE/PET ply yarn on the composite surface formed complete PTFE lubrication films at the initial sliding stage. Originality/value The PTFE/PET fabric composite maintained good friction stability and high-speed adaptability, which demonstrates that the composite has broad application prospects as a highly reliable self-lubricating bearing liner with a long lifespan.