Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites with different content ratios were fabricated using compression molding techniques, while considering molding parameters. Both the PTFE content and molding parameters had a significant effect on the tribological properties of the composites under dry sliding conditions, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimal anti-friction and wear resistance behaviors for composites were achieved with molding parameters of a heating temperature of 160 °C, pressing temperature of 80 °C, and pressing pressure of 10 MPa. For PTFE/UHMWPE (10/90) at different process parameters, its wear mechanism was mainly due to spalling of PTFE powder, migration, and pull-out of UHMWPE which exacerbated specimen wear loss. For PTFE/UHMWPE (2/98), its wear mechanism was mainly due to spalling of a small amount of PTFE powder which played a lubricating role in reducing friction coefficient and composite wear loss.

Keywords: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, compression-molding, tribological properties.