The effects of graphene nanoplatelets on the tribological performance of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Over the last decade, FRP composites have seen increased use in many applications, where an optimum combination of light-weight, better wear resistance and excellent mechanical properties have attributed to their uses in different engineering segments. In this study, Mechanical and tribological properties of woven glass fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composites with and without graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were obtained and correlated. The results of the unmodified GFRE laminates (neat GFRE samples) were compared with those containing 0.5 and 1 wt. % of GNPs (modified samples). Wear resistance of the GFRE composite samples increased with an increase in the GNPs content in the epoxy matrix as obtained by experiments conducted on the Pin-on-disc tribometer. Wear tests showed a considerable reduction in wear rate from 4.54 x 10(-11) m(3)/Nm (neat GFRE) to the lowest value of 2.31 x 10(-11) m(3)/Nm, by adding 1 wt.% GNPs. Further, it was observed that the addition of 0.5 and 1.0 wt. % of GNPs in the base material lowered the coefficient of friction (mu) by about 4% and 18%, respectively, for abrading distance of 200 m, due to the self-lubricating nature of GNPs. The wear mechanisms and transfer film formation were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis.