Synthesis and Tribological Behavior of Nanocomposite Polymer Layers

We report results on microtribological studies of chemically grafted nanoscale polymer layers of different architecture with thickness below 30 nm. We have fabricated the molecular lubrication coatings from elastomeric tri-block copolymers and tested two different designs of corresponding nanocomposite coatings. We observed a significant reduction of friction forces and an increase of the wear stability when a minute amount of oil was trapped within the grafted polymer layer. These polymer gel layers exhibited a very steady friction response and a small value of the coefficient of friction as compared to the initial polymer coating. A polymer 'triplex' coating has been formed by a multiple grafting technique. The unique design of this layer Includes a hard-soft-hard architecture with a compliant rubber interlayer mediating localized stresses transferred through the topmost hard layer. This architecture provides a non-linear mechanical response under a normal compression stress and allows additional dissipation of mechanical energy via the elastic rubber interlayer.