Synthesis and tribological behavior of novel wear-resistant PEEK–Ti 3 SiC 2 composites

In this article, the authors report the synthesis and tribological behavior of Ti₃SiC₂–PEEK composites during dry sliding. These composites were designed by adding 5 vol.% (PEEK–5%312Si), 10 vol.% (PEEK–10%312Si), 20 vol.% (PEEK–20%312Si), and 30 vol.% Ti₃SiC₂ (PEEK–30%312Si) particulates in the PEEK matrix. Tab-on-disc method was used to study the tribological behavior of these samples during self-mating. As the Ti₃SiC₂ content in PEEK was increased from 0 to 30 vol.%, the µ_mean decreased from ∼0.19 to ∼0.14 in PEEK–10%312Si, thereafter, it increased to ∼0.21 in PEEK–20%312Si and PEEK–30%312Si, respectively. The addition of Ti₃SiC₂ particulates had a huge on impact on the wear resistance, e.g. PEEK–5%312Si was 27 times more wear resistant than the PEEK. It is hypothesized that the presence of Ti₃SiC₂ particulates lubricated the tribocontact areas and assisted in the formation of Type IIIa lubricious tribofilms.