Friction and wear behavior of a new 40Cr steel–PTFE fabric composite under heavy loads

A new 40Cr steel–PTFE fabric composite (A) has been prepared and its properties of friction and wear were compared to those of a common embedded solid lubricant composite (B). Sliding tests were carried out in an oscillating tribotester in air at 0.14 Hz and under a contact mean pressure varied from 10 to 90 MPa. Against a 38CrMoAlA steel shaft, composite A exhibits a lower coefficient of friction and a higher wear resistance than composite B. The newly developed composite combines the low friction of the PTFE fabric and the high strength of a 40Cr steel. The friction-induced heating of C86300 bronze reduces its strength significantly and rapidly during sliding, whereas the 40Cr steel remains almost unchanged.