Scalable preparation of functionalized graphite nanoplatelets via magnetic grinding as lubricity-enhanced additive

Abstract

Graphite nanoplatelets were prepared by a novel magnetic-grinding method using self-made equipments. Under a variant magnetic field, magnetic needles collided at a high rotating speed and exfoliated pristine graphite into graphite nanoplatelets with high efficiency. The obtained graphite nanoplatelets are highly crystalline, and the thickness is less than 10 nm. Moreover, the surface area could reached 738.1 m²/g with a grinding time of 4 h. Silanized graphite nanoplatelets can disperse well in SG 15W-40 engine oil and serve as lubricant additive. Tribological results indicate that the friction coefficient and wear-scar of the friction pairs are lower than 76% and 41%, respectively, by adding 1.5‰ (mass fraction) of silanized graphite nanoplatelets. Notably, the functionalized graphite nanoplatelets can realize large-scale production and commercial application.

Keywords

magnetic grinding / graphite nanoplatelets / silanization / lubricant additives

References

[1] GeimA K, NovoselovK S. The rise of graphene [J]. Nature Materials, 2007, 6: 183-191

[2] NovoselovK S, GeimA K, MorozovS V, JiangD, ZhangY, DubonosS V, GrigorievaI V, FirsovA A. Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films [J]. Science, 2004, 306(5696): 666-669

[3] GeimA K. Graphene: Status and prospects [J]. Science, 2009, 324(5934): 1530-1534

[4] JamesD K, TourJ M. Graphene: Powder, flakes, ribbons, and sheets [J]. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2013, 46(10): 2307-2318

[5] ZhengC-h, LiuX, ChenZ-d, WuZ-f, FangD-lai. Excellent supercapacitive performance of a reduced graphene oxide/Ni(OH)2 composite synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2014, 21(7): 2596-2603

[6] EswaraiahV, BalasubramaniamK, RamaprabhuS. Functionalized graphene reinforced thermoplastic nanocomposites as strain sensors in structural health monitoring [J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21: 12626-12628

[7] MaL-y, YuB Q X-d, YangW, PanH-f, ShiY-q, SongL, HuYuan. Functionalized graphene/ thermoplastic polyester elastomer nanocomposites by reactive extrusion-based masterbatch: Preparation and properties reinforcement [J]. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2014, 25(6): 605-612

[8] LiY-f, ZhuJ-h, WeiS-y, RyuJ, SunL-y, GuoZ-hu. Poly(propylene)/graphene nanoplatelet nanocomposites: melt rheological behavior and thermal, electrical, and electronic properties [J]. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2011, 212(18): 1951-1959

[9] SongP-a, CaoZ-h, CaiY-z, ZhaoL-p, FangZ-p, FuS-yuan. Fabrication of exfoliated graphene-based polypropylene nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties [J]. Polymer, 2011, 52(18): 4001-4010

[10] LiS-m, YuX-m, LiuJ-h, YuM, WuL, YangKang. Microstructure and abrasive wear behaviour of anodizing composite films containing SiC nanoparticles on Ti4Al4V alloy [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2014, 21(12): 4415-4423

[11] BermanD, ErdemirA, SumantA V. Few layer graphene to reduce wear and friction on sliding steel surfaces [J]. Carbon, 2012, 54: 454-459

[12] FanX-q, XiaY-q, WangL-p, LiWen. Multilayer graphene as a lubricating additive in bentone grease [J]. Tribology Letter, 2014, 55(3): 455-464

[13] ZhangW, ZhouM, ZhuH-w, TianY, WangK-l, WeiJ-q, JiF, LiX, LiZ, ZhangP, WuD-hai. Tribological properties of oleic acid-modified graphene as lubricant oil additives [J]. Journal of Physics D-applied Physics, 2011, 44: 205303

[14] ShenJ-f, LiN, ShiM, HuY-z, YeM-xin. Covalent synthesis of organophilic chemically functionalized graphene sheets [J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2010, 348(2): 377-383

[15] LiX-s, CaiW-w, AnJ, KimS, NahJ, YangD-x, PinerR, VelamakanniA, JungI, TutucE, BanerjeeS K, ColomboL, RuoffR S. Large-area synthesis of high-quality and uniform graphene films on copper foils [J]. Science, 2009, 324(5932): 1312-1314

[16] IskiE V, YitambenE N, GaoL, GuisingerN P. Graphene at the atomic-scale: synthesis, characterization and modification [J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2013, 23(20): 2554-2564

[17] StankovichS, DikinD A, PinerR D, KohlhaasK A, KleinhammesA, JiaY-y, WuY, NguyenS T, RuoffR S. Synthesis of graphene-based nanoplatelets via chemical reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide [J]. Carbon, 2007, 45(7): 1558-1565

[18] ShinH J, KimK K, BenayadA, YoonS M, ParkH K, JungI S, JinM H, JeongH K, KimJ M, ChoiJ Y, LeeY H. Efficient reduction of graphite oxide by sodium borohydride and its effect on electrical conductance [J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2009, 19(12): 1987-1992

[19] LiD, MullerM B, GiljeS, KanerR B, WallaceG G. Processable aqueous dispersions of graphene nanosheets [J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2008, 3: 101-105

[20] BanhartF, KotakoskiJ, KrasheninnikovA V. Structural defects in graphene [J]. ACS Nano, 2011, 5(1): 26-41

[21] EswaraiahV, AravindS, SJ, RamaprabhuS. Top down method for synthesis of highly conducting graphene by exfoliation of graphite oxide using focused solar radiation [J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21: 6800-6803

[22] JeonI Y, ShinY R, SohnG J, ChoiH J, BaeS Y, MahmoodJ, JungS M, SeoJ M, KimM J, ChangD W, DaiL, BaekJ B. Edge-carboxylated graphene nanoplatelets via ball milling [J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012, 109: 5588-5593

[23] KoskinenP, MalolaS, HakkinenH. Self-passivating edge reconstructions of graphene [J]. Physical Review Letters, 2008, 101(11): 115502

[24] HernandezY, NicolosiV, LotyaM, BligheF M, SunZ, DeS, McgovernI T, HollandB, ByrneM, GunkoY K, BolandJ J, NirajP, DuesbergG, KrishnamurthyS, GoodhueR, HutchisonJ, ScardaciV, FerrariA C, ColemanJ N. High-yield production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite [J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2008, 3: 563-568

[25] ZhangT-y, ZhangD, ShenMing. A low-cost method for preliminary separation of reduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets [J]. Materials Letters, 2009, 63(23): 2051-2054

[26] SiY, SamulskiE T. Exfoliated graphene separated by platinum nanoparticles [J]. Chemistry of Materials, 2008, 20(21): 6792-6797

[27] LiuS, TianJ-q, WangL, SunX-ping. A method for the production of reduced graphene oxide using benzylamine as a reducing and stabilizing agent and its subsequent decoration with Ag nanoparticles for enzymeless hydrogen peroxide detection [J]. Carbon, 2011, 49(10): 3158-3164

[28] HassanH, MA, AbdelsayedV, KhderA, ER S, AbouzeidK M, TernerJ, El-ShallM S, Al-ResayesS I, ElazharyA A. Microwave synthesis of graphene sheets supporting metal nanocrystals in aqueous and organic media [J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2009, 19: 3832-3837

[29] DubinS, GiljeS, WangK, TungV C, ChaK, HallA S, FarrarJ, VarshneyaR, YangY, KanerR B. A one-step, solvothermal reduction method for producing reduced graphene oxide dispersions in organic solvents [J]. ACS Nano, 2010, 4(7): 3845-3852

[30] FerrariA C, BaskoD M. Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for studying the properties of graphene [J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2013, 8: 235-246

[31] CastelainM, MartinezG, MarcoC, EllisG, SalavagioneH J. Effect of click-chemistry approaches for graphene modification on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of polyethylene/graphene nanocomposites [J]. Macromolecules, 2013, 46(22): 8980-8987

[32] OuJ-f, WangY, WangJ-q, LiuS, LiZ-p, YangS-rong. Self-assembly of octadecyltrichlorosilane on graphene oxide and the tribological performances of the resultant film [J]. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011, 115: 10080-10086

[33] QiaoY-l, SunX-f, XuB-s, MaS-ning. High temperature tribological behaviors of nano-diamond as oil additive [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2005, 12(2): 181-185