A Study on Wettability and Tribological Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene and Perfluoroalkyl Vinyl Composite Coatings Polytetrafluoroethylene and Perfluoroalkyl Ethylene Composite Coatings

Fluoropolymers have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional chemical stability and physical properties. This study prepared composite coatings of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) with varying ratios using the solution blending method and systematically evaluated their wettability and tribological properties. By adjusting the ratio of PTFE to PFA, the wettability and tribological performance of the composite coatings can be effectively controlled to achieve an optimal balance of friction reduction and wear resistance. The results showed that the wettability of the composite coatings varied significantly with the composition ratio. Initially, increasing the PFA content enhanced the surface roughness and significantly raised the contact angle to 135°. However, excessive PFA content reduced the contact angle. Additionally, the incorporation of PFA improved adhesion between the coating and substrate. When it slightly increased the friction coefficient, it significantly enhanced the wear resistance of the composite coatings. The optimized composite coating exhibited the best overall performance, with a contact angle of 138°, a friction coefficient of approximately 0.23, and a wear rate as low as 2.07×10⁻⁶ mm³/Nm. Through this component optimization design, the PTFE/PFA composite coatings demonstrated excellent tribological and wettability characteristics, holding great potential for widespread application in energy equipment, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries.