APPLICATION OF EPOXY RESIN-BASED ANTIFRICTION COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Abstract
Antifriction composite materials based on epoxy resins represent a rapidly growing area of interest in mechanical engineering due to their unique combination of low friction coefficients, high wear resistance, and excellent chemical stability. The present study investigates the tribological and mechanical properties of epoxy-based composites reinforced with solid lubricant fillers including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), graphite, and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) at varying weight fractions (5–30 wt.%). Specimens were produced by cold mixing and curing, and their properties were evaluated through pin-on-disk tribometry, tensile and flexural testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrate that the incorporation of 15 wt.% PTFE combined with 5 wt.% graphite reduces the friction coefficient from 0.42 (neat epoxy) to 0.11, while maintaining tensile strength above 62 MPa. Wear rate was decreased by a factor of 4.3 compared to the unfilled matrix. SEM analysis revealed the formation of a homogeneous tribofilm on the worn surface, responsible for the improved antifriction performance.