The friction and wear properties of metal-plastic multilayer composites filled with glass fiber, which is treated with rare earth element surface modifier, under impact load and dry friction conditions were investigated. Experimental results show that the metal-plastic multilayer composite filled with glass fiber exhibits excellent friction and impact wear properties when using rare earth elements as surface modifier for the surface treatment of glass fiber.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites were prepared using 60 wt.% Pb and 5 wt.% glass fiber (GF). The surface of GF was modified with a coupling agent, a mixture of coupling agent and rare earths, and rare earths, respectively. The friction and wear properties of the PTFE composites, sliding against 45# carbon steel (AISI 1045 steel) under oil lubrication, were investigated on a pin-on-disc sliding wear machine. It was found that modified GF, which was filled into PTFE, decreased the wear of the PTFE composites compared with that of the PTFE composite filled with unmodified GF. The friction and wear properties of PTFE composite filled with Pb and rare earths-modified GF were greatly enhanced, owing to the effective improvement of the interfacial adhesion between the GF and PTFE.

Three types of surface modifiers, N-β-aminoethyl-y[1]-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent (SGS), a mixture of silane and rare earth elements (SGS/RES), and rare earth elements surface modifier (RES), were used to treat the glass fiber surface. Tensile tests of glass fiber–reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (GF/PTFE) composites with different surface treatment conditions, surface modifiers, and glass fiber content were carried out. Finally, the fracture surface morphologies of GF/PTFE composites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results showthat the tensile properties of the treated GF/PTFE composite increased compared with those of the untreated one. RES is superior to SGS/RES and SGS modifiers in promoting interfacial adhesion between the glass fiber and PTFE because of the effects of rare earth elements on the compatibility. Meanwhile, the optimum contents of rare earth elements for the improvement of the tensile properties of GF/PTFE composite were obtained for RES and SGS/RES modifiers. The interfacial adhesion of the GF/ PTFE composites treated with RES or SGS/RES modifiers was mainly controlled by the contents of rare earth elements. The tensile properties of the GF/PTFE composites improved considerably when the content of rare earth elements in surface modifiers was 0.2-0.4wt%, and the optimumtensile performance of GF/PTFE composites was obtained at 0.3wt% RE content.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites were developed by filling with 60 wt.% Pb and 5 wt.% glass fiber (GF). The GF was modified with an alcoholic solution (SGS) of N-β-aminoethyl-β-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent (SG-Si900), an alcoholic solution (SGS/RES) of SG-Si900 and rare earths, and an alcoholic solution (RES) of rare earths, respectively. The friction and wear properties of these PTFE composites, reciprocating sliding against chromium-plated steel in dry friction, under both static loads and impact loads, were investigated. The worn surfaces of the PTFE composites and the transfer films formed on the counterface were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Experimental results reveal that the wear resistance of PTFE composites filled with modified GF can be largely improved. The friction property of PTFE+60 wt.% Pb+5 wt.% RES modified GF composite is the best of the PTFE composites filled with modified GF. However, the wear resistance of PTFE composites is largely decreased under impact loads, compared to that under static load conditions. The PTFE + 60 wt.% Pb + 5 wt.% RES modified GF composite registers excellent impact wear resistance in dry reciprocating sliding under impact load conditions. SEM investigation reveals that the modified GF can enhance the adhesion of the transfer films to the counterface, so they largely decrease the wear of the PTFE composites. Under impact load conditions, the PTFE debris on the worn surfaces of the PTFE composites is characterized by fine powder, owing to the repetitive impact in dry reciprocating sliding, which can decrease the ability of PTFE to form its transfer films, and then leads to the decrease of the friction and wear properties of the PTFE composites.