The current study focuses on the development of silanized graphene oxide reinforced basalt fiber/epoxy composites for enhanced tribological and viscoelastic properties. The modified-graphene oxide nanoplatelets were characterized using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman analyses. Pin-on-disk wear test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis were conducted to determine the tribological and viscoelastic properties of the fabricated specimens with different silanized-graphene oxide loadings in the matrix (0–0.5 wt.% at a step of 0.1). The multiscale specimens were fabricated using the hand lay-up technique. The best silanized-graphene oxide loading for effectively enhancing the tribological properties was found to be 0.4 wt.%, whose wear rate and friction coefficient were 62% and 44%, respectively lower than those of the neat basalt/epoxy composite. The examination of the worn surfaces showed the enhanced basalt fiber/epoxy bonding in graphene oxide-reinforced specimen. From the results of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, the specimen filled with 0.4 wt.% silanized-graphene oxide demonstrated the highest increase of 130% and 13.6℃ in the storage modulus and glass transition temperature as compared to the neat composite. This study indicated that the addition of silanized-graphene oxide considerably enhanced the tribological and viscoelastic properties of the fibrous composites.
To enhance the interfacial bonding between the graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONs) and epoxy (EP) matrix, two different types of silane coupling agents (amino‐ and EP‐silane) were applied to the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. The effects of the silane compound type and silanized GON loading (0.1–0.5 wt% at an interval of 0.2) on the dry‐sliding wear response of GONs‐EP nanocomposites were then studied. The wear tests were conducted under 20 N load and 1000 m sliding distance. The results showed that the wear properties were remarkably improved by the incorporation of silanized GONs to the matrix, and the best wear behavior was obtained at 0.3 wt% silanized GONs. Most importantly, the amino‐silane coupling agent was shown to be more effective in enhancing the wear resistance of the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. After the wear tests, the composite surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy to find the predominant mechanisms.
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