Effect of graphene platelets on tribological properties of boron carbide ceramic composites

The friction and wear behaviour of hot pressed boron carbide/graphene platelets (GPLs) composites have been investigated using the ball-on-flat technique with SiC ball under dry sliding conditions at room temperature. The hardness and fracture toughness of the investigated materials varied from 18.21GPa to 30.35GPa and from 3.81MPa·m1/2 to 4.60MPa·m1/2, respectively. The coefficient of friction for composites were similar, however the wear rate significantly decreased ~77% in the case of B4C+6wt.% GPLs when compared to reference material at a load of 5N, and ~60% at a load of 50N. Wear resistance increased with increasing GPLs content in regards to the present graphene platelets, which during the wear test pulled-out from the matrix, exfoliated and created a wear protecting graphene-silicon based tribofilm. [Display omitted] •For the first time the tribological properties of B4C/GPLs system were described.•Fabrication of dense composites with good combination of mechanical properties.•Raised wear resistance is connected with the creation of wear protecting tribofilm.