Ultralow Friction Polyphenylene Sulfide Composites: Construction of Co‐Supportive Reinforcement‐Lubrication Functionality From Multiscale Fillers

ABSTRACT This work reported that polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)‐based composites achieved a simultaneous improvement of mechanical and tribological performance through hybrid loading of multiscale fillers, including γ‐irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (iPTFE), graphite (Gr), or molybdenum disulfide (MoS ₂ ). Results indicated that iPTFE was able to reduce the friction coefficient of PPS by 70.74% and specific wear rate by 98.99% through forming a transfer film on the friction pair. The synergistic effect of employing iPTFE and lamellar Gr (or MoS ₂ ) particles in enhancing the tribological performance of PPS was evaluated. The ternary PPS/iPTFE 20 wt% composites with either 10 wt% Gr or MoS ₂ showed excellent alleviation of friction and wear. To meet the stringent requirements for engineering applications, short carbon fibers (SCFs) were added to achieve a further enhancement of tribological and mechanical properties due to the formation of “co‐supportive reinforcement‐lubrication filler network.” This work provided a facile strategy to fabricate high performance polymer composites that could act as friction component in industrial fields.