Common Misconceptions in Wear-Resistant Materials Choice

Common Misconceptions in Wear-Resistant High Performance Plastics Materials Choice

 In fields such as semiconductor equipment, high-speed machinery, and precision sliding components, wear-resistant materials are often critical to system stability. However, in practice, we often encounter situations where wear remains significant even after selecting higher-grade materials. This does not necessarily mean the materials themselves are "inadequate." More often, it stems from a misunderstanding of the wear mechanisms.

Below, several commonly overlooked points in precision equipment scenarios are outlined.

Misconception 1: Focusing Solely on Material Hardness

Wear resistance is not simply about "the harder, the better." While hardness does affect indentation resistance, in high-speed, lightweight, and long-term continuous operation equipment, the dominant factors of wear are often:

 1，The rate of temperature rise at the friction interface

2，Accumulation of surface fatigue and micro-cracks

3，Compatibility between the material and the counterpart

4，Whether a stable transfer film can form at the interface

For example, in some semiconductor handling mechanisms, unmodified PEEK has considerable hardness but limited ability to control interface temperature rise. However, when graphite or PTFE is added, the transfer film becomes more stable, and wear is actually reduced. In other words, wear resistance is an "interface behavior," not a "hardness competition."

Misconception 2: Neglecting PV (Pressure × Velocity)

In high-speed rails, drive modules, and sliding components within vacuum chambers, PV is one of the most critical design parameters. The definition of PV is straightforward:

PV = Velocity (m/s) × Pressure (MPa)

But it determines the instantaneous heat generation rate at the interface and whether wear will increase abruptly. Once PV exceeds the material's tolerable range, typical manifestations include:

1, Abnormal increase in the coefficient of friction

2, Signs of polishing, gelling, or melting adhesion on the surface

3, Significant fluctuations in the coefficient of friction

4, Rapid local temperature rise

This is a classic case of "interface instability," unrelated to how expensive the material is. Once the PV limit is breached, any material will be rapidly degraded.

Misconception 3: Changing Materials While Ignoring the Counterpart’s Condition

In high-speed or ultra-clean environments, the microscopic condition of the counterpart’s surface is particularly important:

Is the roughness too high?

Are there hard spots or machining marks on the surface?

Does waviness cause localized overload?

Can the surface support the proper formation of a transfer film?

If the peaks on a metal part's surface protrude like micro-blades, even if high-performance modified PEEK is used, it will be continuously "plowed," and wear will not improve. Therefore, in many successful wear-resistant solutions, the material and the counterpart’s surface are designed together.

Misconception 4: Treating a System Problem as a Material Problem

In critical equipment, wear is often not due to a material failure but rather a deviation in a system condition from expectations:

1, Slight structural misalignment can lead to extremely high localized pressure, completely inconsistent with the overall design values.

2, Changes in lubrication or gas medium conditions, such as slight outgassing in vacuum environments or micro-contamination in clean systems, can alter the behavior of the friction interface.

3, Inadequate thermal management, especially in high-speed reciprocating or continuous rotating components, significantly impacts material stability.

If these hidden factors are not addressed, simply changing materials will generally not lead to significant improvement.

Figure 1: Wear Rate of PEEK 450FC30 (Data sourced from Victrex)

Figure 2: Coefficient of Friction of PEEK 450FC30 (Data sourced from Victrex)

Conclusion: Wear Resistance Is Not as Simple as Changing Materials

Especially in semiconductor equipment, high-speed machinery, and precision motion devices, wear performance depends on:

Material selection + PV compliance + Counterpart surface condition + Temperature control + Structural load distribution

It is a system, not just the material itself. Only by thoroughly understanding interface behavior can wear issues be genuinely resolved, ensuring more stable operation and longer equipment lifespan.

JUTAIPEEK® Wear-resistance series

JUTAIPEEK® Wear-resistance series features a low coefficient of friction and high wear resistance, making it a self-lubricating, bearing-grade polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite material.

Excellent sliding and friction properties

High strength and stiffness

High dimensional stability

High thermal conductivity

High heat resistance

Outstanding corrosion resistance

JUTAIPEEK®WR01-Wear-Resistant Grade

JUTAIPEEK® WR01 is a polymeric profilewith high grade wear-resistance.WR stands for Wear resistance. WR01 is made from 10% of short-cut carbon fiber, 10% of PTFE Powder, 10% of graphite powder modified Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK).

JUTAIPEEK®WR02-Bearing Grade

JUTAIPEEK® WR02 is a wear-resistant modified PolyetherEther Ketone PEEK profile. WR stands for Wear resistance. WR02 is a PEEK product modified with 20% Teflon. The Teflon used herein is specially customized, which can be uniformly dispersed in the PEEK resin to achieve a low friction coefficient and high wear resistance.

JUTAIPEEK®WR03-Fluorine-Free Wear-Resistant Grade

JUTAIPEEK® WR03 is a high-wear-resistant, fluorine free modified Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. This product features a low coefficient of friction and a high wear resistance rate, making it a self-lubricating, compression-resistant, bearing-grade PEEK composite material.

This product only supply injection molding currently.

JUTAIPEEK®WR04-Fluorine-Free Wear-Resistant Grade

JUTAIPEEK® WR04 is an ultra-wear-resistant, fluorine-free modified Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. Compared to JUTAIPEEK® WR03, it offers higher hardness and better heat resistance. This product features a low coefficient of friction and a high wear resistance rate, making it a self-lubricating, compression-resistant, bearing-gradePEEK composite material.

This product only supply injection molding currently.