Inorganic Particles and Other Fillers

The integration of various functional fillers is a traditional route to achieve highly wear-resistant polymer composites. In order to reduce the adhesion of polymers to metallic counterparts, internal lubricants, such as PXra powders and graphite flakes, are frequently incorporated. Short aramid (AF), glass (GF) or carbon (CF) fibers are used to increase the creep resistance and the compressive strength of the polymer matrix. Not so many efforts have been undertaken so far in the development of such composites by integrating inorganic particles with conventional fillers. 

PTFE powders were applied as an additional filler together with micron size CuS particles or SiC nanoparticles, respectively, in a PEEK matrix. 1 vo opposite trends were observed. In the former case, the addition of PTFE contributed to a reduction of both the wear rate and the frictional coefficient. However, in the latter case, PTFE brought a negative effect to the tribological properties, which was believed by the authors to be due to a chemical reaction between the SiC nanoparticles and the PTFE. 

---