A study on the influence of reduced graphene oxide on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical and tribological properties of silicone rubber nanocomposites

Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by modified Hummer's method and it reduced with hydrazine. Synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. An elastomeric nanocomposite was prepared by incorporating rGO in silicone rubber using two roll mill mixing method.Tribological study was conducted at a wear surface of hardened ground steel against different applied load, sliding speed and temperature using a pin on disk setup. Addition of rGO results in an improvement of mechanical, tribological and thermal properties of silicone rubber. The coefficient friction (COF) and specific wear rate of the nanocomposite decreased with rGO concentration, applied load, and temperature. Morphological analysis of SRrGO nanocomposites was deeply investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Worn surface analysis confirms that rGO forms a lubricant film on the counter surface but it fails to form a strong adhesive film on the metal surface. The depth wear rate decreased by the incorporation of rGO in the Silicone rubber (SR) matrix.