Abstract

In this study, the tribological behaviors of graphene as a lubricant additive for steel/copper and steel/steel friction pairs were compared. For the steel/copper friction pair, the graphene sheets remarkably decreased the coefficient of friction and wear scar depth under low loads, but these slightly increased under high loads. The steel/steel friction pair showed excellent tribological properties even under high loads. Severe plastic deformation on the copper surface reduced the stability of the graphene tribofilm because of a rough copper transfer film on the steel during the running-in period. The results provide a better understanding of the mechanism of graphene as a lubricant additive.

Highlights

  • Steel and copper alloys are common materials and constituents of engineering machinery

  • The tribological behaviors of steel/copper and steel/ steel friction pairs were compared under the lubrication of a graphene lubricant

  • The steel/copper friction pair with thermallyreduced graphene oxide (TRGO) sheets had a COF and wear scar depth that decreased under low load, but slightly increased under high load

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Summary

Introduction

Steel and copper alloys are common materials and constituents of engineering machinery. Several studies have been conducted on friction and wear in steel/copper [1,2,3,4,5,6] and steel/steel [7, 8] friction pairs under lubricated or dry friction conditions. Graphene is a 2D laminated material that has been explored extensively as a novel lubricant additive to further improve the properties of lubrication oil [16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24] It has excellent mechanical and thermal properties as well as good physical and chemical stability [25]. The tribological behavior of graphene as a lubricant additive for steel/copper and steel/steel friction pairs is comparatively studied for the first time. The results offer important guidance on suitable friction pairs lubricated with graphene-based lubricants

Material processing and sample preparation
Experimental procedure
Characteristics of the graphene additive
Friction and wear
The influence of severe plastic deformation
Conclusions

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