Tribological Performance of Epoxy Nanocomposite Reinforced by BNNSs-Supporting-α-Fe2O3

Developing low-friction, high wear-resistant epoxy-based self-lubricating composites is crucial for reducing friction and wear in transmission components of advanced equipment. However, the shortcomings of brittleness in hence and poor wear resistance of epoxy limit its tribological application under harsh sliding conditions. In this study, the nanohybrid of h-BN nanosheets (BNNSs)-supporting-α-Fe 2 O 3 was designed to harness their synergistic reinforcement and lubricating effect on the tribological performance of epoxy. The feature of α-Fe 2 O 3 /BNNSs was analyzed, and its tribological enhancement on epoxy nanocomposites was explored systematically. Results demonstrated that the α-Fe 2 O 3 of size less than 50 nm was uniformly loaded on the BNNSs surface to form a rough microstructure, which was conducive to perfecting the interfacial compatibility of the epoxy composite. Moreover, the α-Fe 2 O 3 /BNNSs significantly improved the capacity for antifriction and anti-wear of epoxy. Only by filling 0.7 wt% α-Fe 2 O 3 /BNNSs, the coefficient of friction (COF) of the corresponding composite coating was reduced by 85.1%, and its wear rate was significantly reduced, nearly 96.7%. More importantly, the epoxy-0.7 wt%α-Fe 2 O 3 /BNNSs kept reasonable tribological performance under high loads/speeds. By analyzing the worn surface of friction pairs, the tribological synergism of α-Fe 2 O 3 /BNNSs on epoxy coatings was discussed. This study might offer novel insights into the design of high-performance epoxy self-lubricating nanocomposite coatings.