Evaluation of the Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Polyether Ether Ketone Fiber-Reinforced Resin-Based Friction Materials Fabricated by Wet Granulation

Lekai Li; Zichao Ma; Guoqin Liu; Wei Song; Lili Ren; Shengwang Yuan; Xiao Yang; Qifeng Zhang; Yunhai Ma

doi:10.3390/polym15244732

Evaluation of the Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Polyether Ether Ketone Fiber-Reinforced Resin-Based Friction Materials Fabricated by Wet Granulation

Polymers (Basel). 2023 Dec 18;15(24):4732. doi: 10.3390/polym15244732.

Authors

Lekai Li^{1

2

3}, Zichao Ma⁴, Guoqin Liu^{1

2

3}, Wei Song⁵, Lili Ren¹, Shengwang Yuan^{1

2

3}, Xiao Yang^{1

3}, Qifeng Zhang^{1

3}, Yunhai Ma^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China.
² Institute of Structured and Architected Materials, Liaoning Academy of Materials, Shenyang 110167, China.
³ Weihai Institute for Bionics, Jilin University, Weihai 264200, China.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA.
⁵ The College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China.

Abstract

Resin-based friction materials (RBFMs) strengthened by polyether ether ketone (PEEK) fiber were designed and prepared in this study. Specimens incorporating PEEK fiber of 2-8 wt.% were fabricated based on wet granulation, and then the effects of the PEEK fiber content on the mechanical and tribological properties of RBFMs were systematically investigated. The results showed that PEEK fiber can sense the braking temperature and then effectively regulate the comprehensive properties of RBFMs. The specimen incorporating 6 wt.% PEEK fiber obtained the optimal comprehensive performance with a stable friction coefficient (COF), excellent fade resistance and recovery properties, and better wear resistance. The worn surface was inspected using a scanning electron microscope. After the friction-wear test, the specimen with 6 wt.% PEEK fiber presented a number of primary and secondary plateaus and a reduced number of pits with wear debris on the worn surface. The study indicated that PEEK fiber could not only enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of RBFMs at low temperatures because of their high strength and self-lubrication but also adhere to wear debris to reduce abrasive wear at high temperatures; furthermore, the adhered wear debris could form a secondary plateau under normal pressure, which could alleviate abrasion.

Keywords: PEEK fiber; resin-based friction materials; tribological properties; wet granulation.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52275288), Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan Item (No. 20210202021NC), Changchun City Science and Technology Development Plan Item (No. 21ZGN15), Jilin Scientific and Technological Development Program (No. 20230508019RC).