Polymer-based materials show to be of increasing interest in replacing metal based

materials in tribological applications due to their low weight, cost and easy manufacturability.

To further reduce the environmental impact of these bearing materials recyclability is becoming

more crucial, stimulating the need for high performing thermoplastic materials. In this study,

polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites were prepared in an effort to enhance the polymers’

tribological properties. Short carbon fibres (SCFs), graphene oxide (GO) and nano diamonds (NDs)

as well as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were used as micro and nano reinforcements. The addition

of SCFs especially decreased the linear coefficient of thermal expansions while enhancing the

micro hardness and wettability of the polymer. Under water lubricated conditions, a decrease

in friction up to 56% and a reduction of wear rate in the order of 103  was observed by the addition

of SCF. The reduction in friction and wear was further enhanced by the addition of NDs, providing

a synergistic effect of the reinforcements in micro and nano scale. By testing the individual

reinforcements under dry conditions, PTFE and SCFs were especially effective in reducing friction

while the release and consequent abrasion of NDs and SCFs increased the wear under a higher

contact pressure.