Interface enhancement between polytetrafluoroethylene and glass fibers modified with a titanate coupler

The use of glass fibers (GFs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), and talc was evaluated to reinforce polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for potential applications in automobile shock absorber pistons. The orthogonal experiment results show that the optimal GF/MoS 2 /talc/PTFE weight ratio was 2:3:3:92 for the PTFE composite; this ratio resulted in better mechanical properties, hardness, low linear expansion, and wear rate. Chemical coupling and high-temperature activation treatment on the surface of GF greatly enhanced the interfacial adhesion between the PTFE matrix and GF, as revealed by atomic force microscopy analysis. This resulted in reductions in the wear rate and linear expansion coefficient by two orders of magnitude compared with that of PTFE. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44668.