Tribological behavior and compressive creep of PTFE/poly‐p‐hydroxybenzoate/fibrous wollastonite composites: The influence of hot‐pressing pressure

Abstract The introduction of poly‐p‐hydroxybenzoate (PHB) and fibrous wollastonite can effectively improve the comprehensive properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐based composites, but its properties are significantly influenced by hot‐pressing pressure during sintering. In this article, PTFE/fibrous wollastonite/PHB composites were prepared by using different hot‐pressing pressures, that is, 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 MPa. The relationship between the morphology, compressive strength, creep deformation and tribological properties of PTFE composites and sintering pressure was investigated. The results indicated that the prepared composites had the lowest friction coefficient of 0.208, the smallest creep value of 0.061 mm and the largest compressive strength of 35.2 MPa, and a minimum wear rate of 0.11 × 10⁻⁶ mm³/N m when the hot‐pressing pressure was 40 MPa. It was found that appropriate hot‐pressing pressure applied during sintering process facilitated the penetration of polytetrafluoroethylene macromolecules in the molten state through the reinforcing filler network interface around PTFE resin domains and the entanglement of PTFE macromolecules separated by the reinforcing fillers, thus effectively improving the friction and wear properties and compressive creep resistance of PTFE/PHB/fibrous wollastonite composites. Highlights Appropriate hot‐pressing pressure facilitated the better dispersion of fillers. The worn surface and transfer film were examined to analyze wear mechanism. Tribological and creep properties of the composites were noticeably improved.