The Tribological Behaviours of PEEK and Peek Based Composites PEEK Under Sliding Contact

This paper describes a study that studied the tribological behaviour of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) and composites polyether ether ketone carbon fibre 30% (PEEK CA30%) against AISI 52100 STEEL under non-lubrication and marginal lubrication conditions. The wear mechanisms and friction coefficient of PEEK and PEEK CA30% were tests under reciprocating sliding conditions with deionised Water, Ethylene Glycol, Silicone and base SN100 oil. Tribological measurements were performed with a pine on plate configuration on the tribometer high frequency (TE77). To examine the surface topography and wear mechanisms, an optical 3D micro-coordinate measurement microscope with Alicona G5 was used. Results explain how the lubrication affects tribological performance. The friction coefficient of PEEK450 was reduced with silicone lubricant, to 50% more than the SN100 oil lubricant, Whilst wear resistance for silicone and SN100 oil was similar, although wear resistance of the EEKP CA30% was the comparable for silicone and SN100 oil, in the silicone was the best lubricant. Results also discuss wear growth through the period, and surface morphology effects.