Dependences of the wear resistance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and composites based on it with carbon fibers on contact pressure have been obtained, which make it possible to determine their load capacity in the regime of dry and boundary friction in the environment of various lubricating oils at a sliding speed of a steel counterbody of 0.5 m / s. It has been established that the life of UHMWPE and composites based on it during dry friction with increasing contact pressure is determined mainly not by the wear of the working surface, but by the plastic deformation of the surface layers of the composites due to an increase in temperature in the frictional contact zone. It is established that the use of gear oil as a lubricant during friction of PCM contributes to the formation of a more durable boundary layer, which protects the material from wear.