Effects of organo-modified montmorillonite on the tribology performance of bismaleimide-based nanocomposites

Poly(allyl condensed polynuclear aromatic-bismaleimide) (ACOPNA-BMI) with different loadings of an organo-modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were successfully prepared via in situ suspension polymerization. Exfoliation/intercalation phenomena were detected using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Positive effects of the exfoliated platelets on the wearable and thermal behaviours were achieved by varying the OMMT load. The lowest friction coefficient of ACOPNA-BMI/2.0 wt.% OMMT was 0.46 at a wear rate of 0.508 x 10(-6) mm(3)/Nm, which was superior to that of pure ACOPNA-BMI copolymer resin. The thermostabilities of the materials were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The temperature at the maximum rate of thermal decomposition of ACOPNA-BMI/3 wt.% OMMT was 480 degrees C, which was much higher than that of the pure ACOPNA-BMI copolymer (436 degrees C). The nanocomposite obtained, which is a suitable wearable material, can be widely used for protecting drilling tools in petroleum engineering applications due to its thermostability and good self-lubrication properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.