ABSTRACT Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a premier engineering thermoplastic for tribological applications, yet its performance often degrades under extreme or abrasive operating conditions. This study employs three modification strategies to treat PEEK materials: reinforcement with 30% glass fiber, 30% carbon fiber, and a ternary hybrid modification incorporating 10% carbon fiber, 10% graphite, and 10% polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The tribological behaviors of these materials were then systematically evaluated using a ring‐on‐ring tribometer across dry friction conditions, conventional water‐lubricated conditions, and water‐lubricated conditions with sand‐containing water (particle sizes of 15, 30, and 88 μm). The results demonstrate that the hybrid composite (PEEK‐CGP10) exhibits exceptional performance, achieving a 5‐fold extension in service life under dry friction conditions and a 73.56% reduction in wear rate compared to pure PEEK under conventional water‐lubricated conditions. Notably, the hybrid material maintains superior stability in sandy media through a “size‐screening” effect, driven by a synergistic mechanism of mechanical reinforcement and interfacial lubrication. This research provides a targeted solution for the design of high‐performance, condition‐adaptive PEEK bearings in marine and hydraulic systems.
Liang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.