F-0224 Friction and Wear Properties of Lead-Free PTFE-based Composite Bearing Materials.

Abstract

We have developed a lead-free PTFE-based composite bearing material, filled with BaSO_4, MoS_2 and graphite instead of lead, because lead contained in the conventional PTFE-based composite bearing material has been recognized as a serious pollutant. Frictional and wear-resistant properties of the new material has been found to be as excellent as those of the conventional one. We, therefore, examined to clarify the mechanism focusing the behavior of BaSO_4 by using surface analytical tools such as SEM, EPMA, AES and TOF-SIMS. Some interesting results obtained are described below.