Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets as lubricant additive to 5CB liquid crystal for friction and wear reduction

摘要

The h-BN nanosheets (h-BNn) was used as an additive to 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphyl liquid crystal (5CB), and its influence on tribological performance was investigated on a ball-on-disc tribometer for steel/steel contacts. Micron h-BN (h-BN mu) was used as a reference additive, and it is found that h-BNn has superior lubricating effects than h-BN mu. When h-BNn concentration is 0.01 wt%, compared to pure 5CB, the friction coefficient and the wear scar diameter on the ball reduced by 15.5% and 33.8%, respectively. Raman spectra analysis shows that h-BNn entered sliding interface, forming a low shear resistance protective layer on wear surfaces.