Mechanical and tribological properties of hot-pressed electrospun MWCNTs/carbon nanofibril composite fabrics

Mechanical and tribological properties of electrospun fiber fabrics are of paramount importance to their utility as components in a large number of applications. Post-spin heat treatment assisted with static pressure has been used to enhance the properties of electrospun fabrics and to activate its high surface energy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed a formation of graphitic structure of 9.5-nm crystallite sizes that has been calculated from Raman breathing modes. Hot-pressed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/carbon fabric with 130 ± 32-nm fibril diameters showed an outstanding flexibility and strength. Also, adding MWCNTs enhanced the fabric tensile strength (from 40 to 60 MPa) and lowered the fabric coefficient of friction (COF) (from 1.70 to 0.15) and its abrasive mass loss (0.2 mg has been achieved). The hot-pressed electrospun MWCNTs/carbon nanofibril composite fabrics can be considered as a good candidate, by controlling fabric MWCNT weight percent, for both journal bearing (COF below 0.4) and brake pad (COF from 0.4 to 0.7) applications.