Nanosheets of MoS2 and reduced graphene oxide as hybrid fillers improved the mechanical and tribological properties of bismaleimide composites

Abstract The hybrid nanoparticles composed of reduced graphene oxide and MoS 2 nanosheets with active amino groups (NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 ) were fabricated by a facile and effective method. Then the bismaleimide (BMI) composites filled with the as-prepared NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 nanoparticles were obtained by a casting method. The microstructure and morphology of NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 nanoparticles, the mechanical properties, thermal property and tribological properties of NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 /BMI composites were investigated. The results show that the interlaminar distance of MoS 2 nanosheets in the hybrid nanoparticles is 0.71 nm, which is much larger than that of bulk MoS 2 (0.62 nm); and the NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 /BMI composites possess better friction-reducing and anti-wear performances (the friction coefficient and volume wear rate are about 0.2 and 2.9 × 10 −6  mm 3 /(N·m), respectively) compared to the neat BMI resin. This is mainly attributed to the enhanced toughness of the nanoparticles, good interfacial adhesion between NH 2 -rGO/MoS 2 and BMI matrix as well as the synergistic effect between rGO and MoS 2 nanosheets.