Synthesis and tribological investigation of carbon nanotube, onion-like carbon and nanodiamond reinforced nickel matrix composites

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Mücklich
• Subject Area: Glass, Ceramics and Derived Composites ; Coating and Surface Technology ; Materials in Sintering Processes and Generative Manufacturing Processes
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265592949

• Final Report Year: 2019

Final Report Abstract

The project dealt with a new branch of solid lubricants (CNP) and their use in a suitable basematerial (MMC) to create and understand self-lubricating surfaces. The work covers the complete process development from the synthesis and processing, experimental analysis and theoretical modeling, discussion and understanding of involved mechanisms up to the production of a prototype. Out of three investigated CNP (ND, OLC and CNT), CNT are identified as the most suitable solid lubricant for self-lubricating surfaces. In this regard, their large aspect ratio, flexibility as well as degradation mechanism are the most important aspects to consider. Being stored in a surface, CNT are continuously pulled into the contact by elastic compression and restoration. Due to their degradation mechanism, their lubrication activity is insensitive to variations in humidity, surface roughness, loading conditions and contact mechanics. The lubrication mechanisms of CNT was understood to be based on degradation towards nanocrystalline graphitic structures. Thus, if continuously provided to the contact area, CNT are able to adapt to the given situation by effectively combining different solid lubricant working principles, namely: rolling, sliding and shearing. As a result, permanent self-lubricating surfaces are successfully produced, allowing for a maximum reduction in friction and wear by a factor of 4 and 115, respectively. Our results highlight the suitability of the proposed integrated solution as a promising approach for self-lubricating surfaces subjected to unidirectional sliding under various operational conditions.

Publications

• Dispersion analysis of carbon nanotubes, carbon onions, and nanodiamonds for their application as reinforcement phase in nickel metal matrix composites, RSC Adv. 5 (2015) 95149–95159
  L. Reinert, M. Zeiger, S. Suárez, V. Presser, F. Mücklich
  
• Carbon Nanotube (CNT) -Reinforced Metal Matrix Bulk Composites: Manufacturing and Evaluation, in: M. Aliofkhazraei (Ed.), Diam. Carbon Compos. Nanocomposites, 1st ed., InTech, 2016: p. 180
  S. Suárez, L. Reinert, F. Mücklich
  
• Tribo-Mechanisms of Carbon Nanotubes : Friction and Wear Behavior of CNT-Reinforced Nickel Matrix Composites and CNT-Coated Bulk Nickel, Lubricants. 4 (2016) 1–15
  L. Reinert, S. Suárez, A. Rosenkranz
  
• Carbon Nanoparticle-Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites: Microstructural Tailoring and Predictive Modeling, Adv. Eng. Mater. 19 (2017) 1600750
  L. Reinert, S. Suarez, T. Müller, F. Mücklich
  
• Long-lasting solid lubrication by CNT-coated patterned surfaces, Sci. Rep. 7 (2017) 42873
  L. Reinert, F. Lasserre, C. Gachot, P. Grützmacher, T. MacLucas, N. Souza, F. Mücklich, S. Suarez
  
• Dry friction and wear of self-lubricating carbonnanotube-containing surfaces, Wear. 406–407 (2018) 33–42
  L. Reinert, M. Varenberg, F. Mücklich, S. Suárez
  
• In-situ nanodiamond to onion-like carbon transformation in metal matrix composites, Carbon 129 (2018) 631–636
  S. Suarez, L. Reinert, M. Zeiger, V. Presser, P. Miska, F. Müller, F. Mücklich
  
• Influence of Surface Design on the Solid Lubricity of Carbon Nanotubes-Coated Steel Surfaces, Tribol. Lett. 66 (2018) 89
  C. Schäfer, L. Reinert, T. MacLucas, P. Grützmacher, R. Merz, F. Mücklich, S. Suárez
  
• Influence of Surface Roughness on the Lubrication Effect of Carbon Nanoparticle-Coated Steel Surfaces, Tribol. Lett. 66 (2018) 45
  L. Reinert, S. Schütz, S. Suárez, F. Mücklich
  
• Tribological behavior of selflubricating carbon nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix composites, Wear. 408–409 (2018) 72–85
  L. Reinert, I. Green, S. Gimmler, B. Lechthaler, F. Mücklich, S. Suárez