Structure-property effects on mechanical, friction and wear properties of electron modified PTFE filled EPDM composite

Abstract

Tribological properties of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-rubber (EPDM) containing electron modified Polytetraflu- oroethylene (PTFE) have been investiagted with the help of pin on disk tribometer without lubrication for a testing time of 2 hrs in atmospheric conditions at a sliding speed and applied normal load of 0.05 m·s -1 and FN = 1 N, respectively. Radia- tion-induced chemical changes in electron modified PTFE powders were analyzed using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) specroscopy to characterize the effects of compatibility and chemical coupling of modified PTFE powders with EPDM on mechanical, friction and wear properties. The composites showed different friction and wear behaviour due to unique morphology, dispersion behaviour and radiation functionalization of PTFE powders. In general, EPDM reinforced with electron modified PTFE powder demonstrated improvement both in mechanical and tribo- logical properties. However, the enhanced compatibility of PTFE powder resulting from the specific chemical coupling of PTFE powder with EPDM has been found crucial for mechanical, friction and wear properties.