Tribological Properties of PTFE Composites Reinforced With Attapulgite‐Loaded Layered Double Hydroxides

ABSTRACT Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a vital self‐lubricating engineering material with exceptional chemical stability and inherent low friction, yet its inferior mechanical properties and high volumetric wear rate (16.517 × 10 ⁻¹³ m ³ /(N m) for pure PTFE) severely restrict engineering applications. To mitigate this, a core–shell nanofiller (ATP@LDHs) was synthesized via in situ coprecipitation, via uniform deposition of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) on attapulgite (ATP) nanorods. The nanofiller was incorporated into PTFE to fabricate a PTFE‐based composite via cold‐press sintering. The resultant composite exhibits a 116‐fold reduction in volumetric wear rate (to 0.142 × 10 ⁻¹³ m ³ /(N m)), a low stable friction coefficient of 0.17, and enhanced matrix tensile strength, elongation at break, compressive strength, and hardness. This outstanding performance stems from a synergistic dual mechanism: ATP@LDHs reinforces the PTFE matrix and induces a tribo‐induced robust, wear‐resistant transfer film. This work provides a promising strategy to develop high‐performance polymer composites tailored for extreme service conditions.