PEEK Composites as Self-Lubricating Bush Materials for Articulating Revolute Pin Joints

Abstract

In this study, bearing bushes made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), 30 wt % carbon fibre reinforced PEEK, 30 wt % glass fibre reinforced PEEK, each 10 wt % of PTFE, graphite and carbon fibre modified PEEK were investigated on a purpose built pin joint test rig. The unlubricated friction and wear behaviour was assessed in sliding contact with a 300M shaft, subjected to a nominal pressure of 93 MPa, articulating sliding speed of 45 °/s. The worn surface and the subsurface layer were studied using optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to thermal sensitivity of PEEK composites, friction energy and temperature rise were analysed for determining the friction and wear mechanism. The bush made of PTFE, graphite and carbon fibre (each 10 wt %) modified PEEK presented the best performance for friction coefficient, wear loss, friction energy and temperature rise. Current work demonstrated that reinforcement modified PEEK composite possesses desirable properties to perform as a load bearing bush in certain tribological applications.

Surface Finishing of FDM-Fabricated Amorphous Polyetheretherketone and Its Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite by Dry Milling

“…Because of the combination of excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a kind of semi-crystalline polymer, and its composites have attracted a great deal of interest from both scientists and engineers [ 4 ]. These kinds of polymers possess great potential to replace conventional metal materials because of their high strength-to-weight ratios, especially for the aviation and space industry [ 5 ].…”

A Study on Machining Performances of Micro-Drilling of Multi-Directional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (MD-CFRP) Based on Nano-Solid Dry Lubrication Using Graphene NanoPlatelets

“…Suresha et al reported a self-lubricating nature of carbon fiber from the abrasion test [ 27 ]. Zhu et al conducted the pin joint test of graphite and carbon fiber modified polymer, and the self-lubricating carbonous characteristics were found by observing worn surfaces and wear debris [ 28 ]. In addition, these carbonous materials could create tribofilm.…”

Biological tribology properties of the modified polyether ether ketone composite materials

“…Although the traditional biomedical titanium alloy has good tribological properties and compatibility in vivo circumstances, there were some obvious problems such as insufficient strength and rigidity, and the wear debris side effects in applications [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In the development of bone repair biomaterials, poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) modified reinforced composites have been developed by leaps and bounds [5,6]. PEEK is a new type of semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer, which has the advantages of elastic modulus closing to cortical bone, good biocompatibil-ity, constant physical and chemical properties and mechanical properties, and no artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning.…”