Tribological properties of bronze filled PTFE under dry sliding conditions and aqueous environments (distilled water and sea water)

The tribological behaviour of 60 wt. % bronze filled PTFE sliding against AISI 420 stainless steel in ambient air, distilled water and sea water was investigated. The experiments were conducted on a pin on disc tribometer at room temperature at a normal load of 10N. The bronze filled PTFE showed superior tribological performance in sea water as compared to distilled water and dry sliding. The lowest average coefficient of friction (0.045) and lowest specific wear rate (1.10 × 10‒5mm3/Nm) were observed under sea water environment. Surface morphological and surface analytical studies were conducted using optical microscopy, SEM, EDS and 3D surface profilometer to reveal wear mechanisms. From profilometric traces of counterface, it was observed that there was no increase in the surface roughness of the counterface after sliding against bronze filled PTFE in sea water and hence indirect corrosive wear is not the dominant wear mechanism.