Radiation resistance evaluation of cross-linked polytetrafluoroethylene by the investigation of friction and wear behavior

Radiation resistance of cross-linked polytetrafluoroethylene (XPTFE) sheets was evaluated by measuring the friction and wear properties as well as observing the morphology after γ-irradiation in air at room temperature. The wear resistance of XPTFE was confirmed to be much higher than that of virgin PTFE. The friction coefficient of XPTFE decreased with increasing dose, whereas the wear resistance remained stable until a critical dose was reached and then decreased sharply with dose. The critical dose of wear resistance was dependent on the crosslinking density or crosslinking dose of XPTFE. The radiation resistance of XPTFE improved significantly due to the formation of three-dimensional crosslinking networks by irradiation in the molten state. In addition, morphologies of the abraded debris of virgin PTFE and XPTFE were also compared and a clear difference was observed.