Effect of tribochemical reaction of polytetrafluoroethylene transferred film with substrates on its wear behaviour

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of carbon steel, aluminium and copper blocks covered by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) transferred film were performed. The tribochemical reactions of the PTFE transferred film with iron and aluminium were detected and no reaction was found for the system of PTFE and copper. When the tribochemical reactivity between PTFE and metals was compared with the wear rates of PTFE rubbing against these metal surfaces, it is concluded that no effect of the reactivity on the wear behaviour of PTFE was found. This appears to indicate that the PTFE transferred films were detached from the middle layer of the films and not from the interface between the films and substrate during the rubbing process.