A review on recent advances on improving polyimide matrix nanocomposites for mechanical, thermal, and tribological applications: Challenges and recommendations for future improvement

In recent years, advancements on improving the mechanical and tribological properties of polyimide nanocomposites have remarkably increased, owing to the fact that polyimide nanocomposites exhibits lightweight, high strength, thermal stability as well as anti-wear and solvent resistance. The polyimide nanocomposites are described as material of polyimide matrix reinforced with certain volume or weight percent concentration of nanofillers. Researchers have demonstrated the importance of thermoplastic polyimide nanocomposites in mechanical, thermal, and tribological applications. However, the nanocomposites are reportedly facing interfacial adhesion issues and surface properties degradation, which have affected their mechanical, friction, and abrasive wear resistance for tribological applications. Although, much advancements on improving the mechanical, thermal, and wear resistance properties of polyimide nanocomposites has been reported. However, this review summarizes the effects of nanofillers, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene (GN), graphene oxide (GO), boron nitride (BN), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), silica (SiO2), titania (TiO2), alumina (Al2O3), carbon fibres (CF), aramid fibre (AF), glass fibre (GF), zinc dioxide (ZnO2), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), silicon nitride (Si2N4), and carbon nitride (C3N4) on the mechanical, thermal, and wear properties of polyimide nanocomposites for tribological applications. The authors concluded the review study with advancement, challenges and suggestions for future improvement of polyimide nanocomposites as friction component material. Thus, the review offers an insight into the improvement and selection of polyimide nanocomposites material for mechanical, thermal, and tribological applications. More so, the review will also give away for further research.