Comparative Study on the Lubrication of Ti3C2TX MXene and Graphene Oxide Nanofluids for Titanium Alloys

Titanium alloys are difficult to machine and have poor tribological properties. Nanoparticles have good cooling and lubricating properties, which can be used in metal cutting fluid. The lubrication characteristics of the two-dimensional materials Ti3C2TX MXene and graphene oxide in water-based fluid for titanium alloys were comparatively investigated in this paper. Graphene oxide had smaller friction coefficients and wear volume than Ti3C2TX MXene nanofluid. As to the mechanism, MXene easily formed TiO2 for the tribo-chemical reaction, which accelerated wear. Moreover, GO nanofluid can form a more uniform and stable friction layer between the frictional interface, which reduces the friction coefficient and decreases the adhesive wear. The effects of different surfactants on the lubricating properties of MXene were further investigated. It was found that the cationic surfactant Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1631) had the lowest friction coefficient and anti-wear properties for the strong electrostatic attraction with MXene nanoparticles. The results of this study indicate that 2D nanoparticles, especially graphene oxide, could improve the lubricating properties of titanium alloys. It provides insight into the application of water-based nanofluids for difficult-to-machine materials to enhance surface quality and cutting efficiency. The developed nanofluid, which can lubricate titanium alloys, effectively has very broad applications in prospect.