Study on the tribological and hydrophobic behaviors of phenolic coatings reinforced with PFW, PTFE and FEP

Effect of PFW, PTFE and FEP on tribological and hydrophobic properties of the phenolic composite coatings was evaluated using a block-on-ring wear tester and contact angle machine, respectively. The worn surfaces of the phenolic composite coatings and the transfer films formed on the surface of the GCr15 bearing steel were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope. The results show that the fluoropolymers of PFW, PTFE and FEP can greatly enhance the tribological and hydrophobic properties of the phenolic coating. The wear-reducing action of PFW is the most effective, that of FEP is the next, and that of PTFE is the worst. Meanwhile, effect of sliding speed and applied load on the friction and wear properties of the phenolic composite coatings filled with PFW, PTFE and FEP was also studied. We find that the friction coefficients of the phenolic composite coatings reinforced with different fillers decrease with increasing sliding speed and applied load, and the anti-wear behavior of phenolic coatings filled with PFW and FEP is excellent under the high sliding speed. The varied features of transfer films on the counterpart steel ring, coupled with the self-lubricative properties of filler particles, largely accounted for the differences in the tribological property of the unfilled and different fluoropolymers-filled phenolic coating.