Tribological Property of Surface Modified Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Various carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are added into the epoxy matrix as reinforcements to investigate the effect on the wear behavior. Effects to the tribological properties of different loading concentrations and types of surface modification are investigated by using a linear reciprocal wear tester. As increasing the concentration of CNTs shows the reduction of the wear loss. Moreover, surface modified CNTs give better tribological property than as produced CNTs. It is due that the functional groups on the surface of CNTs increase the interfacial bonding between CNTs and epoxy matrix through chemical bonding. Changes in worn surface morphology are observed by optical microscope and SEM to investigate the wear behavior. CNTs in the epoxy matrix near the surface are exposed and it becomes the lubricating working film on the worn surface. It reduces the friction and results in the lower surface roughness morphology in the epoxy matrix as increasing the contents of the CNTs.