Wear and tribofilm characterization of bamboo CNT (B-CNT)-peek composite with incremental blending of submicron synthetic diamond particles

Wear characteristics modified on high functionality tribo poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) composite fabricated through the spatial distribution of bamboo Carbon NanoTube (B-CNT) with incrementally blended networks of sub-micron high thermal conductivity synthetic diamond (SD) particles were studied. The composites were developed by the hot press sintering route and were characterized for their mechanical, thermal stability, chemical state, and tribological properties. On the addition of reinforcement particles, the hardness of the composite was increased by 25%, and thermal stability improved by about 25 °C due to the strengthening effect of diamond particles. FTIR reveals the existence of the chemical compatibility of reinforcements in the matrix. XRD results reveal that the addition of reinforcements in the matrix does not alter the structure of PEEK. Wear characteristics of PEEK composite were investigated by varying applied pressures. The coefficient of friction reduced to 30% for 0.5%SD & 0.75%B-CNT sample, and the specific wear rate was reduced to 39% for 1%SD & 1%B-CNT sample compared to neat PEEK, at maximum loading condition. The coefficient of friction and specific wear rate were reduced to a larger extent due to transfer film consisting of ferric oxide film confirmed by XPS oxygen region peak 531.85 eV and distorted polymer rings was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.