Wear Behavior of Functionalized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Composites

This article studies the tribological behavior of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) reinforced epoxy matrix composites. MWNTs reinforced epoxy composites are fabricated by an injection molding process. The effects on the tribological properties of different loading concentrations and different functional groups of MWNTs are investigated by using a linear reciprocal wear tester. As increasing the concentration of MWNTs reduces wear loss, better tribological property was attained on functionalized MWNTs than as-produced MWNTs. The changes in worn surface morphology are observed in order to investigate the wear behavior. The MWNTs in the epoxy matrix near the surface are exposed and became a lubricating working film on the worn surface. The dispersion and interfacial bonding of MWNTs in the epoxy matrix are investigated from the fracture surface. The existence of MWNT at the wear surface is verified by a Raman spectrometer.