The Effect of Carbon Fiber Content on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced PTFE Composites

Blending polytetrafluorothylene (PTFE) to carbon fiber at different compositions was produced in a corotating twin screw extruder where PTFE acts as the polymer matrix and carbon fiber as the dispersed phase. The effects of carbon fiber content on mechanical and tribological properties of the composites were investigated. The worn surface morphologies of neat PTFE and its composites were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the wear mechanisms were discussed. The presence of carbon fiber dispersed in the PTFE continuous phase exhibited superior tribological characteristics to unfilled PTFE. The optimum wear reduction was obtained when the content of carbon fiber is 30 vol%.