Nearly everyone is familiar with the polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE), otherwise known as Teflon, the brand name used by the chemical company
DuPont. Famous for being “non-sticky” and water repellent, PTFE is a dry
lubricant used on machine components everywhere, from kitchen tools and engine
cylinders to space and biomedical applications.
Recently, engineering researchers at the University of
Arkansas found a way to make the polymer even less adhesive. They treated thin
films of PTFD with silica nanoparticles and found that the lubricating material
significantly reduced wear of the polymer while maintaining a low level of
friction. The researchers’ work will enable machinery to last longer and
operate more efficiently.