Constructing 3D interconnected CNTs network in PA6 composites with well-dispersed UHMWPE for excellent tribological and heat dissipation properties. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Jing; Zhu, Jiaming; Li, Qianzhu; Wu, Hong; Guo, Shaoyun; Qiu, Jianhui
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 246(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Wear -- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- Particle-reinforcement -- Compression moulding; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: Recently, the requirements for wear resistance of materials under harsh pressure-velocity (PV) conditions become increasingly high. Herein, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) via a novel efficient plasma treatment was introduced to disperse evenly in polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix and a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected carboxyl functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) network was further constructed in PA6 composites via solvent-free ball milling and compression molding to achieve excellent tribological and heat dissipation properties. Friction tests show that the incorporation of the plasma-treated UHMWPE, as well as CNTs, leads to a significant reduction of the coefficient of friction (COF) of PA6 by 77.5%. Moreover, the 3D interconnected CNTs network forms a high-speed pathway for heat transfer and achieves a relatively high thermal conductivity (TC) of 0.40 W/(m K) at an ultra-low level of 0.2 wt% CNTs, which is 42.9% higher than that of pure PA6. Interestingly, the maximum contact temperature monitored by the infrared camera reduces greatly from 108.9 °C to 57.2 °C, indicating that low COF and high TC are beneficial for low contact temperature. As a result, the specific wear rate of PA6 composites is dramatically decreased by 98.1% compared to pure PA6. The strategy can be used to produce advanced bearing bushes and wearing laths in industrial applications. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A novel efficient plasma treatment method was developed to modify the surface of UHMWPE with polar groups. The evenly dispersed UHMWPE leads to a significant reduction of the coefficient of friction and wear rate of PA6 composites. The 3D interconnected CNTs network greatly enhances the thermal conductivity (TC) of the PA6 composites. The low coefficient of friction and high TC lead to a dramatical reduction of the maximum tribo-surface contact temperature.