Enhanced tribological properties of bismaleimides filled with aligned graphene nanosheets coated with Fe3O4 nanorods†
Abstract
Hybrid particles composed of reduced graphene oxide sheets (GNSs) coated with Fe3O4 nanorods (GNS–Fe3O4) were synthesized through a facile coprecipitation route. Bismaleimide (BMI) composites were then prepared with the aligned GNS–Fe3O4 hybrid particles by a casting method, and the effect of the GNS–Fe3O4 hybrid particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites was investigated. It was found that the BMI composites with the aligned GNS–Fe3O4 exhibited thermal stability, as well as excellent mechanical and tribological properties, such as friction coefficients as low as 0.07 with 0.6 wt% GNS–Fe3O4. This is mainly due to the fact that the aligned GNS–Fe3O4, with its layered structure, can effectively reduce the friction coefficient due to the good synergy between the graphene and Fe3O4 during the wear process. The obtained results indicate that the magnetic alignment of GNS–Fe3O4 is an effective method for greatly improving the friction and wear properties of resin-based composites.