Enhancing the tribological performance of polyimide composite coatings with amino-functionalized MXene nanofillers

At the nanoscale, the surface properties of nanomaterials are of utmost importance. Amino-functionalized MXene (AMXene) was prepared by grafting 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) upon the top layer of Ti3C2Tx. AMXene is introduced into the polyimide (PI) matrix coatings. The findings indicate that the dispersion of AMXene in PI is further substantially enhanced based on the principle of "similar compatibility", which is attributable to the creation of more hydrogen bonds between AMXene and highly polar PI matrix molecular chains. The addition of AMXene lowered the factor of friction by 34.1 % and the rate of abrasion by 84.8 % compared to unadulterated PI. In addition, the PI/AMXene composites exhibit significant reinforcement properties at different loads and speeds.