Properties of PTFE-Based Nanocomposite Reinforced With Micro- And Nano-Fibers of SiС

DOI: 10.62564/M4-DA1555

Petro Sylenko, Denys Andrushchenko, Mykola Yakubiv, Victor Horban, Yuriy Solonin

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science National Academy of Science of Ukraine


Significant enhancement of mechanical properties of polymer materials, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is achieved by using various fillers. In the proposed work, the creation of antifriction composites of the PTFE type reinforced with micro- and nanofibers of SiC is considered. For this purpose, a suspension of PTFE F-4D (TU 6-05-1246-81) and nanofibers manufactured at the IPM NAS of Ukraine [1] were used. 15 weight percent of SiC. X-ray diffraction studies were performed on a DRON-3M diffractometer. All diffractograms showed three distinct lines at the double reflection angles of 36, 60, and 72 degrees, which correspond to the cubic phase of β-SiC. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were conducted on a M-200 microscope. TEM analysis of the images indicates that silicon carbide fibers with sizes ranging from submicron to hundred nanometers are uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. The mechanical properties of the PTFE-based composites depending on the content of silicon carbide fibers were determined by automatic indentation method. It was found that increasing the content of silicon carbide fibers in the composite leads to a significant increase in mechanical characteristics. Tribotechnical tests of samples were conducted on the M-22M friction machine at a constant sliding velocity of 0.5 m/s and variable loads. Hardened steel 45 rollers were used as counterfaces. The introduction of five percent nanofibers into PTFE leads to a several-fold increase in the wear resistance of the composite. With an increase in the volume fraction of fibers to 15% at a given sliding velocity and pressure of 0.5 MPa with a sliding distance of 3-5 km, wear is absent.

Keywords
nanofibers, SiC, PTFE, friction coefficient

Acknowledgments
Not provided

References
[1] P.M. Silenko, A.N. Shlapak, T.V. Tomila, et al., Fe-catalyzed synthesis of SiC nanofibers from methyltrichlorosilane, Inorganic materials, 2008. 44. P. 388-394.