Testing of metal-fluoroplastic sheet antifriction materials at up to 3 mps sliding velocities

The results of comparative tribotests of DU materials and developed netted sheet antifriction polytetrafluoroethylene-based materials during dry friction against a steel counterbody are discussed. It is shown that the netted sheet antifriction material is capable of long operation under the aforementioned conditions at up to 3 mps sliding velocities. IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry of wear debris show a great amount of low-melting polytetrafluoroethylene destruction products that cause a decrease in friction temperature after the specimen run-in. The sheet material having a low wear rate, designed for operation in dry friction at high sliding velocities, can only be produced with a large volumetric share of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is the main condition for the formation of the antifriction layer. The Sharpy rule for sheet material friction at low wear rate is observed when the share of solid inclusions on the friction surface, the bronze frame in our case, is an order of magnitude lower that that of the softer and pliant matrix.