Abstract
Effects of atomic oxygen (AO) irradiation on the structural and tribological behaviors of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites filled with both glass fibers and Al2O3 were investigated in a ground-based simulation facility, in which the average energy of AO was about 5 eV and the flux was 5.0 × 1015/cm2 s. It was found that AO irradiation first induced the degradation of PTFE molecular chains on the sample surface, and then resulted in a change of surface morphology. The addition of Al2O3 filler significantly increased the AO resistance property of PTFE composites. Friction and wear tests indicated that AO irradiation affected the wear rate and increased the friction coefficient of specimens. The PTFE composite containing 10% Al2O3 exhibit the best AO resistance and lower wear rate after long time AO irradiation.
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