Fabrication of a novel hydrophobic zinc borate/polydopamine/talc nanocomposite with sandwich-like structure for enhanced tribological properties

Abstract

Two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) as lubricant additives have received increasing attention due to their low interlaminar shear stress, outstanding chemical stability and lubrication effects, but the extreme pressure properties, dispersion and dispersion stability in base oils are poor. Herein, a hydrophobic zinc borate/polydopamine/talc (OA-ZB/PDA/TA) nanocomposite with sandwich-like structure is prepared by hydrothermal-assisted intercalation combined with mechanical activation process using natural talc 2DLMs as substrate and oleic acid (OA) as a surface hydrophobic modifier and peeling aid. No obvious sedimentation of OA-ZB/PDA/TA occurs in the rapeseed oil after 15 d, while pure TA is significantly deposited after 12 h, showing superior dispersion and dispersion stability. The OA-ZB/PDA/TA used as a lubricant additive in rapeseed oil exhibits excellent tribological performances under the loads from 147 to 784 N, particularly, wear scar diameter and coefficient of friction reduce by 51.4 and 33.7 % under 392 N, respectively, and the maximum nonseizure load (PB) increases by 27.0 % relative to pure TA. The TA-ZB-TA "sandwich-like" structure gives full play to the synergistic lubrication between ZB NPs and TA, resulting in the sliding and rolling effects under low load, friction film and rolling effect under medium load, and friction film under high load. Our work provides a new avenue for the enhanced extreme pressure properties and dispersion stability of 2DLMs in base oil.