Effect of production technologies on the properties and structure of PTFE-based composites

Abstract

In the development of polymer composite materials, it is crucial to use various technological methods for introducing fillers into the structure of the base polymer, by different activation technologies of energy exposure. In this study, the processes of structure formation of polymer composite materials based on polytetrafluoroethylene and discrete hydrate cellulose carbon fibers, depending on the production technology, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. We considered joint mechanical activation of components and passing the powder mixture through laboratory rollers. To understand the processes occurring in the friction process of the developed PCM, surface studies before and after friction by infrared spectroscopy were carried out. We found that during the friction process, depending on the friction mode, the spiral conformation of the PTFE macromolecules changes. An increase in the sliding velocity and the load during PCM friction leads to a change in the spiral conformation of macromolecules with a transition from 136 to a more stable conformation 157. We also found that the combination of technologies for joint mechanical activation of components and rolling of a powder mixture are technological techniques that can increase the structural activity of discrete hydrocarbons and intensify the adhesive interaction at the polymer-filler phase interface, which leads to an increase in the resistance of composites to creep and wear. The developed technological approaches can be used in the production of fluorocomposites containing not only carbon but also other types of fibers.