DRY WEAR STUDIES ON REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE FILLED UHMWPE COMPOSITES

Reduced graphene oxide filled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene matrix composites were produced by a method of liquid phase ultrasonic mixing and then hot press molding. The wear and friction behavior of UHMWPE composites containing up to 3.0 wt. % RGO filler were investigated in sliding against an Al2O3 counterface by a constant loading (5 N) and sliding speed (1.7 cm s-1) experiments carried out in a reciprocating friction testing machine under dry conditions at room temperature. The results showed that, when the content of RGO was up to 1.0 wt. %, wear resistances of the composites were improved significantly. To analyze wear mechanisms, wear surfaces were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and it was found that, as RGO was added into the UHMWPE matrix the tribological behavior of the UHMWPE composites transformed from fatigue wear to adhesive wear associated with the increase of interaction between RGO and UHMWPE matrix and lubricant and binder properties of RGO.