Mixtures, articles having low coefficients of friction, methods of making these, and methods of using these

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for mixtures, methods for making mixtures, articles, methods for making articles, and methods of using articles. In an aspect, the articles have superior tribological properties owing to combinations of polytetrafluoroethylene and an irradiated fluoropolymer described herein.

At least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An article, comprising:
 a mixture derived from an irradiated fluoropolymer and a matrix, wherein the matrix is chosen from polyamide (PA), poly amide imide (PAI), polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulphone (PSU), polyether sulphone (PES), a precursor thereof, a derivative thereof, a homopolymer thereof, a monomer thereof, a copolymer thereof, a terpolymer thereof, and a combination thereof, wherein the article has a coefficient of friction of about 0.1 to 0.25, wherein the article has a wear rate of about 1×10 −8  mm 3 /Nm or less, and wherein the irradiated fluoropolymer is a powder and the matrix is a powder.   
     
     
         2 . An article, comprising:
 a mixture derived from an irradiated fluoropolymer and a matrix.   
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of:
 polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), poly amide imide (PAI), polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulphone (PSU), polyether sulphone (PES), a precursor thereof, a derivative thereof, a homopolymer thereof, a monomer thereof, a copolymer thereof, a terpolymer thereof, and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the irradiated fluoropolymer is a powder and the matrix is a powder. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the article has a coefficient of friction of about 0.01 to 0.5. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the article has a wear rate of about 1×10 −7  mm 3 /Nm or less. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the article is a solid lubricant or a coating. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one un-irradiated fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein one of the irradiated fluoropolymer includes at least one irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein one of the at least one fluoropolymers is tetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the irradiated fluoropolymer is comprised of 50 wt % or more fluorine. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of: a bearing, a joint, a piston, a bushing, a socket, a seal, and a gasket. 
     
     
         13 . An article, comprising:
 a mixture derived from an irradiated fluoropolymer and a matrix, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of: a bearing, a joint, a piston, a bushing, a socket, a seal, and a gasket, wherein the article has a coefficient of friction of about 0.1 to 0.25, wherein the article has a wear rate of about 1×10 −8  mm 3 /Nm or less.