Tribological Properties of Fabric Self-Lubricating Liner Based on Organic Montmorillonite (OMMT) Reinforced Phenolic (PF) Nanocomposites as Hybrid Matrices

Organic montmorillonite (OMMT) reinforced phenolic (PF) nanocomposites with OMMT contents of 2 and 5 wt% were fabricated by the two-step OMMT intercalation process, resulting in the further increase of interlayer spacing of OMMT from 2.07 to 4.27 nm. Prepared OMMT/PF composites were found to possess a mix of intercalated and agglomerated clay structures via X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results obtained via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) revealed that the thermal stability of PF matrices was enhanced by the incorporation of OMMT. With OMMT/PF nanocomposites as hybrid matrices, fabric self-lubricating liners were prepared to evaluate their tribological properties. Effects of OMMT on friction coefficient, wear loss and wear morphology of fabric self-lubricating liner, based on OMMT/PF nanocomposites, were studied via long-term friction and wear tests. Tribological properties of liners with different OMMT contents were investigated by imitating a high-velocity/light-load condition. The addition of OMMT appears to enhance the friction and wear properties of fabric self-lubricating liner, and the preferable OMMT content is around 2 wt%.