Enhanced tribological properties of aligned reduced graphene oxide-Fe₃O₄@polyphosphazene/bismaleimides composites

By taking advantage of design and construction of strong graphene-matrix interfaces, a ternary nanoparticle (GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM) consisting of graphene, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and highly cross-linked polyphosphazene has been synthesized via a two-stage process consisting of co-precipitation and precipitation polymerization. And then the bismaleimide (BMI) matrix composites with aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM are fabricated under a magnetic field to take full advantage of the tribological properties of graphene. Characterization results reveal that the 0.8 wt% aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM/BMI composite has the lowest friction coefficient and volume wear rate compared with non-aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM/BMI and aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄/BMI composites under all the test conditions. In addition, the aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM/BMI also shows superior mechanical properties and thermal stability. The excellent properties of aligned GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM/BMI result from uniformly distribution and parallel alignment of graphene in the BMI matrix, as well as good interface interaction between GNS-Fe₃O₄@PZM and BMI matrix.