Deficiencies in wear and frost resistance as well as mechanical strength constitute the main causes of equipment failure under the harsh climatic conditions of the Earth's polar regions. To improve the properties of the materials used in this equipment, nanoparticle composites have been prepared from clays such as kaolinite, hectorite, and montmorillonite in combination with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). A number of techniques have been proposed to disperse silicate particles in PTFE or UHMWPE polymer matrices, and several successful processes have even been widely applied. Polymer nanocomposites that exhibit enhanced mechanical and thermal properties are promising materials for replacing metals and glass in the equipment intended for Arctic use. In this article, we will review PTFE-and UHMWPE-based layered silicate nanocomposites.
We investigated the tribochemical and wear properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based polymer matrix composites with nanoceramic (NC) β-sialon, and Al 2 O 3 particles for the mechanical seal applications at low temperature. SEM showed that NC particles were homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix and initiated the formation of the supramolecular spherulites around NC. From the temperature stimulated depolarization (TSD) current results, it was analyzed that the surface charge on nanoceramic affected the formation of the spherulites structure. 2 wt % Al 2 O 3 NC did not degrade the mechanical properties of PTFE so that composites showed the similar values of tensile strength, elongation at the rupture and friction coefficient as those of neat PTFE. However, the composite with 2 wt % Al 2 O 3 NC revealed the improved wear resistance, wear rate of 0.4-1.2 mg/h at room temperature and 0.28 mg/h at −40 o C, respectively, while the neat PTFE the 70-75 mg/h at room temperature and 70.3 mg/h at −40 o C.
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