Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tribological Characterisation of Air-Sprayed Epoxy-CNT Nanocomposite Coatings

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tribology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Epoxy-carbon nanotube (CNT) composites are promising coating materials for wear and corrosion critical applications such as marine bearings, shafts, bolts and gears. However, there are insufficient tribological data available for design. This article described the fabrication and tribological testing of an epoxy-CNT composite coating composed of a commercial epoxy primer and commercial CNT filler. The CNT filler was pre-treated so that it was compatible with epoxy resin and was dispersed using a ball milling process. A reciprocating sliding test rig was built for the measurement of friction and wear of the coatings which were subjected to multi-pass testing using the ball-on-plate sliding geometry. The rig allowed testing with either constant or varying normal force, along with measurement of normal and tangential forces. Thus, the coefficient of friction (COF) under ramping or constant normal force could be determined. Following testing, the samples were examined using an optical microscopy to determine the severity of any galling which had taken place. The coatings were found to display encouraging properties in all aspects of testing. COF values of around 0.2 were recorded under a nominal contact pressure up to 1 GPa. This coating can be used for components which require anti-corrosion and low friction properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stachowiak, G.W., Batchelor, A.W.: Engineering Tribology, 3rd edn. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ng, K.M., Wang, H., Feng, J., Hu, X.: Tribological behaviors of aligned carbon nanotube/fullerene-epoxy nanocomposites. Polym. Eng. Sci. 48, 1467–1475 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Vigild, M.E., Larsen, T.O., Andersen, T.L., Thorning, B.: The effect of particle addition and fibrous reinforcement on epoxy-matrix composites for severe sliding conditions. Wear 264, 857–868 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Guo, Q.A., Pan, G.L., Ding, J.A., Zhang, W.D., Wang, X.M.: Tribological behaviors of graphite/epoxy two-phase composite coatings. Tribol. Int. 43, 1318–1325 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Podgoric, S., Jones, B.J., Bulpett, R., Troisi, G., Franks, J.: Diamond-like carbon/epoxy low-friction coatings to replace electroplated chromium. Wear 267, 996–1001 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Philip, B., Abraham, J.K., Chandrasekhar, A., Varadan, V.K.: Carbon nanotube/PMMA composite thin films for gas-sensing applications. Smart Mater. Struct. 12, 935–939 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ma, C.C.M., Yuen, S.M., Chiang, C.L., Chang, J.A., Huang, S.W., Chen, S.C.: Silane-modified MWCNT/PMMA composites—preparation, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and thermal stability. Compos. A Appl. Sci. 38, 2527–2535 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Schadler, L.S., Eitan, A., Jiang, K.Y., Dukes, D., Andrews, R.: Surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes: toward the tailoring of the interface in polymer composites. Chem. Mater. 15, 3198–3201 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Schulte, K., Gojny, F.H., Nastalczyk, J., Roslaniec, Z.: Surface modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes in CNT/epoxy-composites. Chem. Phys. Lett. 370, 820–824 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Jacobs, O., Xu, W., Schadel, B., Wu, W.: Wear behaviour of carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy resin composites. Tribol. Lett. 23, 65–75 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jacobs, O., Chen, H.Y., Wu, W., Rudiger, G., Schadel, B.: Effect of dispersion method on tribological properties of carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy resin composites. Polym. Test. 26, 351–360 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. PPG Industries (UK). http://www.coshh365.com/manufacturers/PPG_Industries_UK_Ltd_5118.htm. Accessed on 17 May 2011

  13. Shenzhen Nanotech Port Co. http://www.nanotubes.com.cn/doce/default.html. Accessed on 17 May 2011

  14. Gu, A.J., Liu, L.N., Fang, Z.P., Tong, L.F., Xu, Z.B.: The effects of the variations of carbon nanotubes on the micro-tribological behavior of carbon nanotubes/bismaleimide nanocomposite. Compos A Appl Sci 38, 1957–1964 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Myshkin, N.K., Petrokovets, M.I., Kovalev, A.V.: Tribology of polymers: adhesion, friction, wear, and mass-transfer. Tribol. Int. 38, 910–921 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Williams, J.A.: Engineering Tribology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ludema, K.C.: Friction, Wear, Lubrication a Textbook in Tribology. CRC Press, Boca Raton (1996)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Hutchings, I.M.: Tribology: Friction and Wear of Engineering Materials. Edward Arnold, London (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pelletier, H., Gauthier, C., Schirrer, R.: Wear simulation of polymer using multiscratch test procedure. Tribol. Lett. 37, 507–515 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors express their gratitude to Dr. Gari Harris and Mr. Martin Kieran at the School of Life Science, Dundee University, who assisted with the SEM observations and are also obliged to the Technician team and colleagues, particularly Mr. Tim Linford, Ms. Ruth Mackay, Dr. Richard Rothwell, Mr. Adedeji Kuye and Mr. Steven Clark for their assistance with sample preparation and testing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    H. R. Le

  2. Pacson Valves Limited, Unit F, Claverhouse Industrial Park, Dundee, UK

    A. Howson

  3. Division of Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics, School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

    M. Ramanauskas

  4. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    J. A. Williams

Authors
  1. H. R. Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Howson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Ramanauskas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. A. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. R. Le.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Le, H.R., Howson, A., Ramanauskas, M. et al. Tribological Characterisation of Air-Sprayed Epoxy-CNT Nanocomposite Coatings. Tribol Lett 45, 301–308 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9889-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9889-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation