Friction and wear characteristics of polyetheretherketone (PEEK): A review

Abstract

PEEK is a colourless organic thermoplastic polymer which is used for tribological applications. It is seen as a potential replacement to metal and ceramic tribo-components due to excellent property profile. Various reinforcements like carbon fibers, Al2O3, SiC, WS2, ZrO2, etc have been incorporated in PEEK to improve its wear resistance and to aid its further applications by improving its anti-wear properties. This study presents a review of the tribological properties of PEEK and its composites in dry as well as aqueous environments.The friction and wear characteristics of PEEK and its composites are discussed in the proceeding sections. The role of various fillers in improving the friction and wear characteristics of PEEK is enlightened. The current research trends in PEEK tribology are also presented.