Tribological Behavior and Wear Mechanism of Heavy-Load Woven Self-Lubricating Liners Under a Wide Temperature Range

Abstract Self-lubricating spherical plain bearings are widely employed in aerospace, electronics, and other demanding applications. The performance of fabric self-lubricating liners directly impacts the characteristics of these bearings, making their tribological behavior and wear mechanisms highly significant. This paper presents service-life experiments on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Kevlar woven self-lubricating liners tested from −50 °C to 160 °C under high contact loads. During the friction process, the characteristics of the transfer film are emphasized. The results indicate that at low temperatures, the PTFE surface is rough, transfer-film formation is sparse, and the coefficient of friction is high. Conversely, elevated temperatures promote uniform transfer films and markedly lower friction. Scanning electron microscopic images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results reveal temperature-dependent crazing and wear patterns. The crack networks (shish–kebab structures) around crazes enhance load-bearing capacity and reduce wear. X-ray diffraction indicates increased molecular ordering and a more perfect crystalline structure of PTFE at higher temperatures. The study suggests that a PTFE lubricating film consists of four distinct structural layers. This paper describes a new wear mechanism and transfer-film mechanism under a wide-temperature range and high-load friction conditions, which provides a theoretical basis for future applications.