Influence of Treatment with Non-Equilibrium Low-Temperature Plasma on Dynamic Mechanical and Tribotechnical Characteristics of Friction Polymer Composites

— The results of experimental studies of the influence of non-equilibrium low-temperature plasma on the dynamic mechanical characteristics that determine the vibroacoustic activity of tribocouplings and the tribotechnical properties of friction polymer composite materials with a polytetrafluoroethylene matrix are presented). The aim of the study was to establish the effect of surface treatment of composites with low-temperature plasma of a high-frequency capacitive discharge in air on their dynamic mechanical characteristics and tribotechnical properties. Using non-resonant dynamic mechanical analysis methods, it has been established that plasma treatment leads to a decrease in the values of the tangent of mechanical losses of composites in the surface layer in the entire investigated temperature range (293–473 K), while there is a shift in the peaks of the tangent corresponding to the α- and β-transitions of the polymer matrix of the composite, to the area of higher temperatures. The values of the dynamic modulus of elasticity of the composite showed a tendency to a slight increase; however, this increase is at the limit of the sensitivity of the method. It was found that plasma treatment of friction composites results in stabilization and an increase in the dynamic friction coefficient, as well as a decrease in the wear rate.