Attaching ZrO2 nanoparticles onto the surface of graphene oxide via electrostatic self-assembly for enhanced mechanical and tribological performance of phenolic resin composites

ZrO 2 nanoparticles were electrostatic self-assembled on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) for enhancing the mechanical and tribological properties of phenolic resin. Zeta potential analysis and structural characterization confirmed that ZrO 2 nanoparticles had been successfully adhered onto the surface of GO, and the as-prepared ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid possessed good dispersity. The results showed that filling 1.5 wt% ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid could improve the flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of phenolic resin (PF) by 38.6%, 10.7% and 8.3%, respectively. When 0.5 wt% ZrO 2 @GO was added, the initial decomposition temperature and the residual content at 800 °C of PF increased by 20.0% and 16.9%, respectively. The ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid also exhibited synergistic effect for improving the tribological performance of PF effectively, that when adding 0.5 wt% ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid, the average friction coefficient and wear rate of the composites reduced by 21.8% and 30.6%, respectively. SEM observation and 3D non-contact surface topography analysis showed the wear surface of ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid filling PF composite was smooth, low spalling and shallowly grooved with the typical characteristic of abrasive wear. It was explained that the ZrO 2 @GO nanohybrid could play the role of rolling bearings, form stable and smooth friction transfer film and enhance the interfacial interaction, thus indicated the synergistic wear-resisting performance for PF matrix. It provides a green, convenient and fast method for preparing ZrO 2 nanoparticles-attached GO nanohybrid that can enhance the mechanical and tribological performance of resin-based materials effectively.