Synergistic modification of polytetrafluoroethylene and heptadecafluorodecyltriethoxysilane for boosting low‐temperature properties of carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites

Abstract The inhibitory impact of low temperature on transfer film development and reduction in interface bonding seriously limited the service life of traditional friction materials. Heptadecafluorodecyltriethoxysilane (AC‐FAS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were grafted on the surface of fibers to optimize low temperature wear performance of friction materials. Compared with the pristine sample, surface energy and shear strength of the modified material displayed a 55.4% decline and a 66.8% increase. Meanwhile, its wear rate achieved 5.58 × 10⁻⁹ cm³/J at −60°C, further showing an impressive decrease of 88.9%. This study introduces a new way to enhance low temperature tribological properties of friction materials and further expand application prospects under low‐temperature environments. Highlights PTFE and AC‐FAS synergistically reduce surface free energy, enhancing anti‐adhesion properties. The incorporation of PTFE and AC‐FAS significantly improves the low‐temperature tribological performance of friction materials. The synergistic effect of PTFE and AC‐FAS strengthens the interfacial bonding, enhancing the mechanical properties of friction materials. The low‐temperature friction mechanism of modified friction materials was systematically investigated, providing insights into their enhanced performance.