UROP Project

Tribology of PTFE Composites

wear, friction, PTFE
Research Mentor: Catherine Fidd, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: cf22k@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Open to all Majors
Project Location: AME Building- 2003 Levy Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Bus
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
  • Day: Tuesday, September 2
    Start Time: 3:30
    End Time: 5:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92219172548
  • Day: Thursday, September 4
    Start Time: 12:30
    End Time: 2:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92219172548

Project Description

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a popular polymer for tribological applications due to it's remarkably low coefficient of friction. Unfortunately, it's high wear rate limits many of its applications. To combat this issue, composites of PTFE filled with microparticles or polymer blends have been created to reduce the wear rate with minimal impacts on frictional properties. This project is centered around creating PTFE composites and testing their friction and wear capabilities in various environmental conditions on an in-house made tribometer. Additionally, characterization of the polymer composites with be performed with electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, and other characterization methods to determine the mechanism for the observed friction and wear properties in the polymer.

Research Tasks: -Polymer manufacturing
-Surface energy measurements using contact angle
-Post-processing of sample (sintering)
-Machining of manufactured polymer into testable samples
-Testing of sample on tribometer, data collection
-Data processing in MATLAB

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: -MATLAB (recommended)
-Calculus
-Machining (recommended)
-Understanding of basic mechanics, especially friction
*all skills necessary for this project will be taught

Mentoring Philosophy

My mentoring philosophy revolves around fostering independence while providing support and guidance. In the context of polymer processing and mechanical testing, my approach emphasizes empowering students to take ownership of their project, starting with foundational training and evolving into self-directed work. I believe in the ultimate goal of developing critical thinking skills through data processing and analysis. I encourage students to delve deeply into relevant literature, linking past research with their experimental results. By maintaining open lines of communication, I aim to create an environment where questions are welcomed, and curiosity is nurtured. Our lab has a multi-tiered mentoring structure, where the student will be able to talk to both the graduate student and faculty advisor regarding the project. My role is to guide and support, helping students navigate challenges and refine their understanding, ultimately leading to a more profound grasp of both the theoretical and practical aspects of their project.

Additional Information

This project has some work that can be conducted on main campus as well.

Link to Publications

https://web1.eng.famu.fsu.edu/~bkrick/
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