Graphene Oxide-Grafted Hybrid-Fabric Composites with Simultaneously Improved Mechanical and Tribological Properties

• Published in: Tribology letters 2018-03, Vol.66 (1), p.1-11, Article 28
• Main Authors: Yuan, Junya, Zhang, Zhaozhu, Yang, Mingming, Li, Peilong, Men, Xuehu, Liu, Weimin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion; Bonding strength; Carbonization; Chemical composition; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion and Coatings; Functional groups; Grafting; Graphene; Interfacial bonding; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Organic chemistry; Original Paper; Percolation; Physical Chemistry; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Primers (coatings); Surfaces and Interfaces; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Thermal conductivity; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Thin Films; Tribology; Wear; Wettability; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1023-8883; 1573-2711
• DOI: 10.1007/s11249-017-0978-6

Poor fabric/matrix interfacial adhesion and inferior thermal properties of polymer matrix severely hinder the continued development of hybrid Nomex/PTFE fabric-reinforced polymer composites for advanced tribological applications. Graphene oxide (GO) grafted on fibers has been widely used to reinforce polymer composites and improves the fiber/matrix interface. This study focuses on the tribological and adhesion properties of GO-grafted hybrid-fabric composites. Hybrid Nomex/PTFE fabric-GO multiscale reinforcement was prepared by a novel technique where a hydrothermal carbonization functional primer coating was initially applied on hybrid-fabric followed by chemically attaching GO. The microstructure and chemical composition of modified hybrid-fabrics were comprehensively investigated by SEM, FTIR, and XPS. Results indicated an obvious increase in surface functional groups and wettability. Tensile and peeling testing results showed that the GO-grafted hybrid-fabric composites exhibited 27.3 and 73.6% enhancement in tensile and interfacial bonding strength, compared to that of pristine hybrid-fabric composites. Furthermore, GO modification forming a percolating network on hybrid-fabric within the polymer matrix effectively promoted the thermal stability and heat conductivity of hybrid-fabric composites. Wear tests also showed the anti-wear performance of the modified hybrid-fabric composites was enhanced obviously due to improved interfacial bonding and thermal properties.