Frictional behavior investigation on three types of PTFE composites under oil‐free sliding conditions

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the frictional behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites under oil‐free sliding conditions.

The friction force and power consumption of pressure packing seals, which were, respectively, made of common filled PTFE, 30 wt% CF (carbon fiber) + PTFE and C/C (carbon/carbon) + PTFE, are studied in a reciprocating oil‐free compressor arrangement. Their coefficient of friction is tested on a block‐on‐ring type tribometer.

The results indicate that influence of mean sliding velocity on filled PTFE composites is apparently more predominant than the others. The friction force curvilinear path of 30 wt% CF+PTFE is hardly influenced by changing crankshaft turn angle. For C/C+PTFE, the effect of mean piston velocity on friction force is not evident. The results also indicate that the friction coefficient of C/C+PTFE is lower than that of 30 wt% CF+PTFE if their applied normal force exceeds 9.8 N. Furthermore, their variation curve of friction force is little different and the power consumption of C/C+PTFE is slightly higher than that of 30 wt% CF+PTFE.

Neither the effect of real contact area on friction coefficient measured in a tribometer nor the influence of the temperature on friction force and power tested in a compressor is not taken into consideration here.

Owing to its good mechanical performances and frictional behaviors, C/C+PTFE is an optimum and promising material under conditions with sealing pressure up to 10 MPa and sliding velocity exceeding 4.0 m/s.

A novel material called C/C+PTFE is considered to make packing rings for oil‐free reciprocating compressors and its friction behaviour is tested on a refitted compressor.