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7026875 
Journal Article 
Evolution and Wear of Fluoropolymer Transfer Films 
Uruena, JM; Pitenis, AA; Harris, KL; Sawyer, WG; , 
2015 
1 
Tribology Letters
ISSN: 1023-8883
EISSN: 1573-2711 
SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS 
NEW YORK 
WOS:000352165200009 
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a solid lubricant known for its low friction coefficient and high wear rate. When filled with a low volume percent of alumina particles (5 wt%), its wear rate is decreased over four orders of magnitude. The development of a thin, uniform and well adhered transfer film during sliding is partially responsible for this decrease in wear rate by creating a low shear interface and forming a protective layer between the PTFE/alumina sample and metal countersample. In this work, a "striped'' transfer film was generated by sliding up to one million reversals over a gradually decreasing stroke length. Wear and friction experiments were performed on a microtribometer to determine the robustness of the transfer film. Interferometry and profilometry were used to measure the height and wear of the film. Microscopy was used to investigate the morphology of the transfer film over sliding distance.