Tribological Study of PTFE/Au Nanoparticle Composite Thin Films

Low friction polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been studied extensively and is widely used in tribological applications in bulk form. Tribological properties of thin film PTFE are less reported due to its poor wear resistance. Here, we show that by incorporating Au nanoparticles in PTFE thin film, it is possible to significantly increase the wear resistance of the film. PTFE/Au nanoparticle composite thin films were fabricated on stainless steel substrates by dipping the substrate into a mixture of Au nanoparticle solution and PTFE aqueous dispersion. The friction and wear test results show that Au nanoparticles significantly reduced the wear of the PTFE thin film while preserving its low coefficient of friction (COF). Furthermore, substrate surface topography was found to have a significant effect on the friction and wear performances.