Tribo-response of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites

Multifunctional polymer nanocomposites (MPNCs) are a substantial contributor to net-zero carbon emissions in the current era. The lightweight PNCs are tailored to achieve a desired combination of properties. These composites are widely used in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, energy storage, and construction sectors, as they outperform the conventional heavier composites based on metals and ceramics. However, the drive to produce new multifunctional materials that can be modified to obtain desired qualities is still in the exploration stage. It is vital to investigate the tribo-reaction of these composites as it is meant to study their structural response. The extant literature focuses on the excellent tribo-response of MPNCs, which gives plenty of scope for further research. The advanced PNCs, reported in the literature, have exhibited ultra-low coefficients of friction as low as 0.05 and ultra-low specific wear rate (≈10-16 to 10-15 m3/Nm). The chapter focuses on the design, development, and tribo-response of multifunctional polymer composites with a considerable emphasis on the areas of applications of these composites.