Graphene Oxide Nanosheets as Effective Friction Modifier for Oil Lubricant: Materials, Methods, and Tribological Results

Abstract

The tribological behaviour of graphene oxide nanosheets in mineral oil was investigated under a wide spectrum of conditions, from boundary and mixed lubrication to elastohydrodynamic regimes. A ball-on-disc setup tribometer has been used to verify the friction reduction due to nanosheets prepared by a modified Hummers method and dispersed in mineral oil. Their good friction and antiwear properties may possibly be attributed to their small structure and extremely thin laminated structure, which offer lower shear stress and prevent interaction between metal interfaces. Furthermore, the results clearly prove that graphene platelets in oil easily form protective film to prevent the direct contact between steel surfaces and, thereby, improve the frictional behaviour of the base oil. This evidence is also related to the frictional coefficient trend in boundary regime.