Sliding performance of polymer composites in liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen

Outstanding features favour the application of polymers and polymer composites in low-temperature technology. The booming hydrogen technology is a challenge for these materials, which are considered as seals and bearings in cryogenic pumps. In the present study, three types of thermoplastics, i.e., polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI) and polyamide 6,6 (PA6,6), and one epoxy were considered as matrix materials. Micron-sized fillers, i.e., short carbon fibres, graphite flakes, and PTFE powders, were incorporated into these polymers together with nano-sized TiO₂ particles. Optimised compositions of each matrix were selected from our previous works at room temperature in order to be studied at very low temperature conditions. In particular, frictional tests were carried out with polymer composite pins against polished steel surfaces under constant load over a certain distance in liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen. Afterwards, worn surfaces were analysed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found out that the tribological properties in liquid hydrogen are dominated by the matrix materials, in particular thermoplastics perform generally slightly better than thermosetting resins.