Synergistic Enhancement Effect of Polytetrafluoroethylene and WSe2 on the Tribological Performance of Polyetherimide Composites

To address the issue of high wear of polymer composites during friction, WSe2nanofillers were incorporated into the polymer matrix as a reinforcing phase to enhance heat transfer and improve the composites’ wear resistance. Tannic acid (TA) was grafted onto the surface of WSe2through high-energy ball milling, which facilitated the exfoliation of the nanofillers and improved their interfacial compatibility with the matrix material. Tribological experiments revealed that adding 5 wt% TA-WSe2reduced the friction coefficient and volumetric wear rate to 0.0065 and 8.7 × 10−4μm3/N·m, respectively, representing reductions of 98% and 94% compared to pure PEI. The TA-WSe2not only served as a reinforcing phase to enhance heat transfer but also facilitated the timely dissipation of heat generated during friction. Additionally, it formed strong interfacial bonds with both PEI and PTFE, allowing the applied load to be efficiently distributed throughout the composite material. This study offers a practical approach for the functionalization of WSe2and the development of ternary composite materials for tribological applications.