Effect of graphene nanoplate addition on the tribological performance of Ni 3 Al matrix composites

Abstract

The main objective of this work has been the characterization of wear behavior of the graphene nanoplates (GNPs) in Ni₃Al matrix composites (NMC). The friction and wear behaviors of NMC with the addition of 1 wt.% GNPs against Si₃N₄ ball are tested under different loads using a constant speed of 0.2 m/s. Tribological test results have revealed that small amounts of GNPs are able to drastically improve the antifriction and antiwear properties of NMC. A possible explanation for these results is that, the GNPs not only provide an enhanced effect for NMC to produce better wear resistance, but also form a local protective layer on the contact surfaces to reduce the friction. The investigation shows that GNPs hold great potential applications as an effective solid lubricant for Ni₃Al matrix composites and possibly other alloys.

Keywords

Metal matrix composite graphene nanoplates sliding friction solid lubrication

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Novoselov

Geim

Morozov

. Electric ﬁeld effect in atomically thin carbon ﬁlms. Science 2004; 306: 666–669.

Lee

Wei

Jeffrey

. Measurement of the elastic properties and intrinsic strength of monolayer graphene. Science 2008; 321: 385–388.

Zhao

Nardelli

Bernholc

. Ultimate strength of carbon nanotubes: A theoretical study. Phys Rev B: Condens Matter 2002; 65: 144105–144106.

Novoselov

Geim

Morozov

. Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in graphene. Nature (London) 2005; 438: 197–200.

Zhang

Small

Pontius

. Fabrication and electric-ﬁeld-dependent transport measurements of mesoscopic graphite devices. Appl Phys Lett 2005; 86: 073104–073106.

Zhang

Wang

Cheng

. Mechanical properties of bilayer graphene sheets coupled by sp3 bonding. Carbon 2011; 49: 4511–4517.

Suk

Piner

. Mechanical properties of monolayer graphene oxide. ACS Nano 2010; 4: 6557–6564.

Lee

Wei

. Elastic and frictional properties of graphene. Phys Status Solidi B 2009; 246: 2562–2567.

Berman

Erdemir

Sumant

. Few layer graphene to reduce wear and friction on sliding steel surfaces. Carbon 2013; 54: 454–459.

10.

Berman

Erdemir

Sumant

. Reduced wear and friction enabled by graphene layers on sliding steel surfaces in dry nitrogen. Carbon 2013; 59: 167–175.

11.

Zhang

Diao

. Potential of graphene layer controlling nano-wear during C₆₀ intrusion by molecular dynamics simulation. Wear. (In Press).

12.

Lin

Kim

. Friction and wear characteristics of multi-layer graphene films investigated by atomic force microscopy. Surf Coat Technol 2011; 205: 4864–4869.

13.

Sandoz-Rosado

Tertuliano

Terrell

. An atomistic study of the abrasive wear and failure of graphene sheets when used as a solid lubricant and a comparison to diamond-like-carbon coatings. Carbon 2012; 50: 4078–4084.

14.

Wang

Fan

. Reinforcement with graphene nanosheets in aluminum matrix composites. Scripta Mater 2012; 66: 594–597.

15.

Nieto

Lahiri

Agarwal

. Synthesis and properties of bulk graphene nanoplatelets consolidated by spark plasma sintering. Carbon 2012; 50: 4068–4077.

16.

Nieto

Lahiri

Agarwal

. Graphene nanoplatelets reinforced tantalum carbide consolidated by spark plasma sintering. Mater Sci Eng A 2013; 582: 338–344.

17.

Lahiri

Singh

Keshri

. Carbon nanotube toughened hydroxyapatite by spark plasma sintering: Microstructural evolution and multiscale tribological properties. Carbon 2010; 48: 3103–3120.