The preparation and the friction and wear behaviours of TiO2/CNT/PI composite film

Recently, the tribological properties of polyimide composites filled with TiO2 nanoparticles and short pitch-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. Sliding tests were performed on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder under different temperatures and regular pressure and speed. It was found that the composite with 4wt% TiO2 and 6wt% CNT could reduce the frictional coefficient and wear rate in the most effective way. Compared to the conventional hybrid composites up to now, the above composite was characterised by relatively lower filler content, which would reduce the manufacturing cost. Therefore, it could be largely processed in practice. Increased surface hardness, lubricating effect of the sheet-like wear debris reinforced by TiO2 and rapidly formed transfer film were believed to be the key issues accounting for the obvious wear-resisting and friction-reducing behaviours.