The Tribological Behavior of PTFE-based Bonded Solid Lubricating Coatings Modified with Particulate Synthetic Paraffin Wax

The tribological behavior of polytetraflouroethylene based bonded solid lubricating coatings modified with particulate synthetic paraffin wax was investigated on a block on ring friction and wear tester. The effect of the particulate filler on the deviation of wear data was examined as well, while the worn surface morphology of and the composition of elemental Fe on the coating observed and determined with a scanning electron microscope. As the results, the friction and wear properties of PTFE based bonded solid lubricating coatings are improved by filling with particulate synthetic paraffin wax, so is the repeatability of the wear data of the coatings. Scanning electron microscopic observation and energy dispersive X ray analysis of the worn coating surfaces indicate that the bonded solid lubricating coating transfers to the counterpart steel surface, thus to decrease the friction coefficient and wear rate, by forming a transfer film thereon. Moreover, the particulate synthetic paraffin wax helps to restrain the transfer of counterpart Fe onto the coating surface, therefore to abate the scuffing of the coating and subsequently increase the antiwear life of the coating.