Effect of Micro-Textured Surfaces and Sliding Speed on the Lubrication Mechanism and Friction-Wear Characteristics of CF/PEEK Rubbing against 316L Stainless Steel under Seawater Lubrication

In this work, the lubrication mechanism and friction-wear characteristics of the friction pair between carbon-fiber-reinforced polyether ether ketone (CF/PPEK) and 316L stainless steel with a micro-hemispherical pit textured surface at different sliding speeds under seawater lubrication were studied through numerical simulation and experimental investigation. The study results indicate that the seawater moves following the sliding direction of the upper specimen, forms a vortex ring flow in the hemispherical pit of the bottom specimen, uses the convergent gap to generate a hydrodynamic effect, produces the bearing capacity, and realizes fluid lubrication. The hemispherical pit diminishes the abrasive wear during the friction process by storing the wear debris, and the main wear forms of the hemispherical-pit surface friction pair are oxidative wear and adhesive wear. The friction coefficient of the hemispherical-pit surface friction pair is 0.018–0.027, the specimen contact temperature is 40.2–55.1 °C, and it is always in the hydrodynamic lubrication state in a rotation speed ranging from 1000 r/min to 1750 r/min. As the sliding speed increases, the specimen contact temperature climbs, and the oxidation reaction gradually becomes full. Oxidative wear and adhesive wear alternately play a dominant role in the friction, and the wear rate first decreases and then increases sharply.