This paper studied the effect of additives of 0.5–20 wt.% synthetic CaSiO₃ wollastonite on the thermodynamic, mechanical, and tribological characteristics and structure of polymer composite materials (PCM) based on ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscope, and laser light diffraction methods, it was shown that autoclave synthesis in the multicomponent system CaSO₄·2H₂O–SiO₂·nH₂O–KOH–H₂O allows one to obtain neeindle-shaped nanosized CaSiO₃ particles. It was shown that synthetic wollastonite is an effective filler of UHMWPE, which can significantly increase the deformation-strength and tribological characteristics of PCM. The active participation of wollastonite in tribochemical reactions occurring during friction of PCM by infrared spectroscopy was detected: new peaks related to oxygen-containing functional groups (hydroxyl and carbonyl) appeared. The developed UHMWPE/CaSiO₃ materials have high wear resistance and can be used as triboengineering materials.

The application of titanium and its alloys under friction conditions is severely restricted, owing to their poor wear resistance. The paper presents the results of studies of the composition, microstructure, and tribological properties of Ti-TiC-based composite coatings formed on titanium alloys by the electroarc treatment in an aqueous electrolyte using a graphite anode. It has been found that TiC grains have a different stoichiometry and do not contain oxygen. The grain size varies from hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers, and the micro-hardness of the treated surface reached the value of 29.5 GPa. The wear resistance of the treated surface increased approximately 40-fold, and the friction coefficient with steel decreased to 0.08–0.3 depending on the friction conditions. The formation of a composite material based on Ti-TiC will contribute to the effective protection of titanium alloys from frictional loads in engineering.

The article considers the effect of a filler based on synthetic wollastonite (CaSiO₃), which is introduced into a polymer matrix made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, on the tribotechnical parameters of the produced polymer composite material. Behavioral features of composites after friction were investigated by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the introduction of wollastonite into the polymer matrix contributed to a reduction in the friction coefficient by 23% and the wear rate by four times. In the micrographs of the friction surfaces of the obtained composite, the formation of new secondary structures oriented along the friction direction, different from the initial polymer matrix, was revealed. The presence of wear products (oxidized polymer groups) and CaSiO₃ on the friction surfaces was recorded by infrared spectroscopy. It was established that the synthesized CaSiO₃ particles were deformed under the action of shear forces and participated in tribochemical processes.

This study investigates the impact of a binary filler on the physicomechanical and tribological properties, as well as structure, of polymeric composite materials based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. The organic modifier—2-mercaptobenzothiazole and wollastonite particles synthesized from two different systems (modeled and derived from waste) were used as the binary filler. The synthesis of wollastonite was carried out in the complex model system (CaSO₄·2H₂O–SiO₂·nH₂O–KOH–H₂O) and from technogenic waste (borogypsum). It was demonstrated that the introduction of the binary filler made it possible to obtain an optimal combination of mechanical and tribological properties. It was found that during the wear of polymeric composite materials loaded with organic fillers, the fillers migrate to the friction surface, providing a shield against abrasive wear of the steel counterface. Due to the modification of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene by 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, the interdiffusion of polymeric matrix macromolecules and interphase coupling with wollastonite particles improve. The 2-mercaptobenzothiazole organic compound used as the filler facilitates the relaxation processes within the composite under external loads.

Titanium-based alloys are widely used in aerospace engineering. They have good mechanical and corrosion properties but, in some cases, the material itself or the coating should meet some additional requirements. For example, it may be a requirement of high reflectance to provide effective temperature control. Wollastonite is a promising component for reflective coatings because it improves both their whiteness and mechanical properties. This paper presents the results of studying the composition, the structure and the adhesive strength of wollastonite-containing silicate coatings to titanium substrate. The surface of titanium samples was pre-treated by laser cladding with TiC and etching to provide surface porosity. It has been shown that such treatment allows a significantly increase in the adhesive strength of the coating to the substrate. A decrease in the adhesive strength was observed on titanium samples with an excess of TiO₂ on the surface. This is caused by the formation of crystalline PbTiO₃ at the interface.