Géraldine Theiler

Friction and wear of PTFE composites at cryogenic temperatures

This paper presents investigations on the tribological behaviour of PTFE composites against steel at cryogenic temperatures. The results showed that the friction coefficient decreases with temperature down to 77 K, but did not follow a linear evolution further down to extreme low temperatures. It can be stated that the cryogenic environment has a significant influence on the tribological performance of the polymer composites. The effect of low temperatures was more clearly detected at low sliding speed, where friction heat is reduced. A change in wear mechanism from adhesive to abrasive was observed in this case. SEM and AFM analyses showed that the PTFE matrix composites investigated under these experimental conditions have transferred material onto the disc down to very low temperatures. Chemical analyses indicate the presence of iron fluorides.

Influence of the temperature on the tribological behaviour of PEEK composites in vacuum environment

This paper describes tribological experiments carried out with polyetheretherketone (PEEK), filled with carbon fibres and solid lubricants (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), graphite or MoS2), against steel discs. Oscillating sliding tests were performed in high vacuum environment in the temperature range between -40°C and +160°C. Results indicate that MoS2 filled PEEK show the best tribological performance in vacuum. Particularly, in the lower temperature range and at higher loads the friction behaviour is improved by the MoS2 content.

Frictional Behavior of Material Couples in Superconducting MRI Magnet Systems at 4.2 K

Windings in superconducting magnets operating at 4.2 K are highly susceptible to quenching caused by small frictional heat inputs. Small movements in the magnet system are inevitable during ramping due to the increasing electromagnetic forces. Friction pairs of polymer based materials have been investigated at 4.2 K to gain an understanding of their sliding behavior in conditions representative of superconducting MRI systems. The results indicate that polymer-polymer pairs experience unstable sliding behavior with repeated stick-slip whereas polymer-aluminum couples have stable sliding behavior up to high contact pressures of 20 MPa.

Friction and Wear of Polymer Materials at Cryogenic Temperatures

Polymers are extensively used for sliding systems in cryogenic applications because of their favourable friction and wear behaviour in the absence of external lubrication. Since important new technologies are based on applications under extreme conditions, such as at low temperatures, new requirements on material properties, in particular regarding their operability and reliability, must be met. Up to now, most tribological investigations have been carried out in inert cryogens or cryogenic gas (He, N2). Few experiments have been performed in vacuum environment at cryogenic temperatures. Rarely were testing in reactive media, such as LH2 or LOX. Due to the wide range of operating conditions in cryogenic applications, it is difficult to state general rules. Therefore, this chapter tends to give an overview on theories and experimental studies on polymer tribology at cryogenic temperatures.

PEEK- and PTFE- Based Composites for Tribology Applications in a Range between Liquid Helium and Room Temperature

This study deals with the development of PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) based composites, optimized for low friction and low wear performance under extreme environments. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of a harder polymer component into PTFE (such as PEEK particles), a short fiber reinforcement (e.g. carbon fibers CF), and internal lubricants (e.g. PTFE particles), helps to reduce the friction and to improve the wear resistance over a very wide temperature range.