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Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-α-Alumina Composites: Effect of Environment on Tribological Performance

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Abstract

Perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA)-α-phase alumina (α-Al2O3) composites have dramatically (~ 10,000 ×) improved wear resistance compared to unfilled PFA when tested in air. In this study, unfilled PFA and PFA-α-Al2O3 composites were tested using a linear reciprocating tribometer in dry nitrogen (< 2.5 ppm O2 and H2O), humidity-controlled air (15%, 30%, and 45% relative humidity), and submerged water. PFA-α-Al2O3 tested in dry nitrogen (N2) and in submerged water exhibited wear rates that were two to three orders of magnitude higher than those of PFA-α-Al2O3 composites tested in humidity-controlled air. Infrared spectra of the worn PFA-α-Al2O3 surfaces tested in air exhibited peaks attributed to carboxylate salts. These peaks were severely diminished on the PFA-α-Al2O3 sample tested in dry N2 and not observed for submerged water environments. The high wear rate of PFA-α-Al2O3 tested in dry N2 and submerged water was attributed to the lack of carboxylate salts, which require oxygen and water form. These carboxylate salts bond to the α-Al2O3 filler within the PFA matrix which reinforces the polymer wear surface. Additionally, these carboxylate salts form a transfer film on the stainless steel counterface, which protects both the composite and counterface from wear and abrasion.

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant 1463141. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant #1452783 (Campbell) and 1842163 (Babuska). The authors would like to thank Mike Goldstein and Kyle Kirk of the Lehigh Tribology Lab for their help with preliminary testing and setting up the environment chamber. The authors also acknowledge the rest of the members of the Lehigh Tribology lab for their contributions to experiments and analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Mark A. Sidebottom

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA

    Mark A. Sidebottom, Cooper A. Atkinson, Tomas F. Babuska & Brandon A. Krick

  3. Department of Material Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA

    Kasey L. Campbell & Christopher P. Junk

  4. E.I du Pont de Nemours and Company Inc, 200 Powder Mill Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA

    Heidi E. Burch

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  1. Mark A. Sidebottom
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  2. Cooper A. Atkinson
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  3. Kasey L. Campbell
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Correspondence to Brandon A. Krick.

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Sidebottom, M.A., Atkinson, C.A., Campbell, K.L. et al. Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-α-Alumina Composites: Effect of Environment on Tribological Performance. Tribol Lett 68, 14 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-019-1257-5

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