INFLUENCE OF GRAPHENE OXIDE CONTENT ON THE WEAR RESISTANCE OF ZIRCONIA TOUGHENED ALUMINA COMPOSITES CONSOLIDATED BY SPARK PLASMA SINTERING

Abstract

The addition of 0.28 wt.% GO on the tribological properties of the ZTA composite it was compared with a similar material without the addition of graphene oxide. Comparison of ZTA samples with 0 and 0.28 wt% GO at 10 N showed that the coefficient of friction of the material with graphene oxide was reduced by 15%. In addition, the coefficient of friction of this material became stable much earlier than that of the sample without GO: 2500 meters versus 3500 meters, respectively. Similarly, comparison of the samples at 40 N load showed that the addition of 0.28 wt% GO contributed to a 27% reduction in the coefficient of friction. It was also observed that the stabilization of the friction coefficient for the sample with GO occurred earlier than for the sample without GO, at 2200 meters versus 3800 meters, respectively. Improved tribological characteristics, namely a decrease in the coefficient of friction and an increase in wear resistance, can be associated with the presence of an adhesive graphene layer that forms on the worn surfaces of the ball and composite. The appearance of a graphene layer on the contact surfaces improves the tribological characteristics of ZTA composites with reduced graphene.