Mechanical and tribological properties of basalt fiber fabric reinforced polyamide 6 composite laminates with interfacial enhancement by electrostatic self-assembly of graphene oxide

Abstract

Exploring simple, efficient and applicable interfacial optimisation methods is important to enhance the overall performance of basalt fibre (BF) fabric-reinforced thermoplastic composite laminates. Graphene oxide (GO) was introduced on the surface of BF fabric through electrostatic self-assembly to improve the interfacial bonding of BF fabric-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) composites laminates (BF/PA6) for enhancing the mechanical and frictional wear properties of the composites. It was concluded that surface electrostatic assembly of GO resulted in a significant increase in surface roughness, wettability, surface energy and surface chemical activity of BF fabrics without damaging the fibre backbone structure. With the GO concentration of 0.8 g/L, the interlaminar shear strength, impact strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of the BF/PA6 composites were increased by 85.1 %, 43.2 %, 53.2 % and 63.4 %, and the average friction coefficient and wear rate was reduced by 15.2 % and 40.5 %, respectively. The introduced homogeneous GO strengthens the interfacial bonding of such fibre-fabric reinforced thermoplastic composites by creating mechanical engagement, similar compatibility and chemical cross-linking between the BF fabrics and the PA6 matrix. With enhanced interfacial bonding, the BF fabric reinforced thermoplastic composites possess enhanced stress damage resistance. Under frictional reciprocating stress, the introduced GO inhibited the generation and expansion of microcracks, formed frictional transfer film to play solid lubrication and anti-wear role, and enhanced the thermal stability of the composites to mitigate the frictional thermal damage. The interfacial enhancement method of BF fabric-reinforced thermoplastic composites provided in this study is simple, green, efficient and has good potential for application.

Keywords

• Basalt fiber fabric
• Electrostatic self-assembly
• Graphene oxide
• Interface
• Mechanical properties
• Tribological properties