Abrasion Mechanism of Stainless Steel/Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK) Composites

A new type of composite material, stainless steel fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), was investigated to study its friction and wear properties and mechanisms. The friction materials containing 11 ingredients were hot-pressed and tested using a pad-on-disc type wear tester under unlubricated sliding friction and wear conditions at a constant sliding speed. The worn surface morphology was observed by Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The role of transfer film was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the thermal decomposition of the friction material. The fade ratio of the composites was only 4.8%, the recovery ratio 107%, and the total wear ratio was as low as 0.99 × 10⁻⁷ cm³(N m)⁻¹, showing the perfect properties of heat stability and recovery, as well as high antiwear ability of the composites. Adherence abrasion and particle abrasion take place at higher temperature. A transfer film is formed, which may improve abrasive resistant performance to get stable friction coefficient and low abrasion value for composite friction materials.