Formulation and Characterization of PAI-PTFE-cg Antifriction Coatings

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder is used as a solid lubricant in commercial antifriction coatings. However, most of the matrix polymers are usually not compatible with virgin PTFE resulting in low dispersion and mechanical film stability and adhesion. In our research PTFE TF 2025 was irradiated by g-beam generating PTFE micropowder with persistant radicals and functional groups. These functional groups are able to perform a chemical grafting (cg) of polyamideimide (PAI) and modified PTFE-micropowder by reactive extrusion in melt. Based on grinded extrudates PAI-PTFE-cg dispersions were formulated followed by characterizing dispersion as well as film properties. It was found, that PAI-PTFE-cg dispersion comprises very small PTFE-particles at higher g-irradiation doses in homogeneous dispersions. In addition, all samples showed outstanding film flexibility. Basic tribological properties under mixed lubrication were studied by using a ring-on-disk tribometer. Finally, diluted dispersions were applied to a multi-surface sliding bearing (four segments) for testing in a hydrodynamic plain test bench.