Tribological properties of graphene oxide reinforced aramid paper-based composites

Self-lubricating paper-based composites can provide technological solutions such as low friction and extended service life for the aerospace airframe kinematic mechanical components. To improve the tribological properties of aramid short fibers, this study chemically combined graphene oxide (GO) with aramid nanofibers (ANF) through intermolecular forces, creating a self-lubricating GO-reinforced aramid paper-based composite GO/ANF. Mechanical performance tests have shown that the introduction of GO can significantly improve the fracture strength, Young's modulus, and toughness of paper-based composites. The frictional performance test results show that compared with ANF, the GO/ANF paper-based composites can maintain the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) and wear under high load and high sliding rate conditions. When the amount of GO added is 1 wt%, the COF and volume wear rate of GO/ANF paper-based composites are reduced by 23 % and 89 %, respectively. Mechanism analysis indicates that synergistic effects and friction transfer films are important factors contributing to the excellent performance of paper-based composites. This GO/ANF paper-based composite has good application prospects as a good anti-wear liner material in self-lubricating sliding bearing. •A self-lubricating paper-based composite material GO/ANF was prepared.•GO/ANF has excellent mechanical and tribological properties.•The excellent tribological performance of GO/ANF is attributed to the synergistic lubrication mechanism of ANF and GO and the formation of transfer film on the friction pair.