Studies on newly developed hBN/graphene-based nano-fluids supported by cryogenic cooling conditions in improving the tribological performance of Ti6Al4V alloy

Abstract

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) is often referred to as a “soft” material due to its layered structure and properties that distinguish it from conventional hard materials like ceramics. The layered structure of hBN imparts lamellar lubrication characteristics and the weak van der Waals forces between adjacent layers allow for easy sliding, leading to low frictional resistance. The softness of hBN allows for ease of processing into various forms, facilitating its incorporation into lubricants, coatings, and composite materials. Therefore, the aim of this work is to enhance the lubricating capabilities of the nano-fluids and optimize the frictional behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy against tungsten carbide (WC) abrasive ball for potential biomedical applications, especially for combination of Ti6Al4V femoral stem and carbide femoral head. The newly formulated nano-fluids combine the unique properties of hBN and graphene to create a synergistic lubricating environment. The tribology and advanced characterization techniques were used to analyze the wear behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces. The results demonstrated that the applciaiton of cryogenically cooled lubricants with nanoparticles exhibited the lowest wear depth and friction forces, as a result of their increased viscosity.