Study on the Friction and Wear Properties of Glass Cloth Composites Filled with Various Nano- and Micro-Particles

The glass cloth composites filled with irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), MoS_2, nano-TiO_2, and nano-CaCO_3 were prepared by immersing of the glass cloth in an adhesive doped with various micro- and nano-fillers, plastering of the immersed glass cloth onto the steel substrate, and curing of the plastered glass cloth at proper temperature. The friction and wear properties of the resulting glass cloth composites sliding against AISI-1045 steel in a pin-on-disc configuration and under unlubricated condition were investigated. The worn surface morphologies of the glass cloth composites and the counterpart steel were observed on a scanning electron microscope. It was found that the friction-reducing and anti-wear properties of the glass cloth composites were greatly improved by filling with irradiated PTFE and nano-TiO_2, and the irradiated PTFE was superior to nano-TiO_2 in terms of the ability to improve the friction-reducing and anti-wear properties of the glass cloth. The glass cloth composite filled with 10% PTFE showed the best friction-reducing and anti-wear properties. However, MoS_2, and nano-CaCO_3 as the fillers were harmful to the friction and wear properties of the glass cloth composites. This was related to the different compatibility and interfacial bonding among different fillers and the adhesive and glass cloth matrix, and to the different natures of the transfer films of the glass cloth composites filled with various fillers on the counterpart steel surface as well.