The tribological characteristic of polymer matrix composites is profoundly affected by microstructural alterations that occur during the curing and post-curing phases. This study investigates effect of post-curing on the wear resistance and frictional characteristics of epoxy composites reinforced with MWCNTs-B4C and graphene- B4C. Wear testing was performed under two distinct load conditions, with the results being analyzed, wear rate, and wear depth over time. Introduction of hybrid nanofillers provides a synergistic reinforcement effect, whereas post-curing promotes the interaction between the matrix and filler, as well as increases the crosslinking density that leads to good tribological properties. Furthermore, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was employed to analyze the wear-tested composite samples. The results shown that composites without post-curing exhibit high wear due to weak crosslinking and poor filler–matrix interaction. The wear improves slightly by doing post-curing at 80°C which hardens the matrix. However, the best improvement is realized in 100°C post-curing whereby all the composites with MWCNTs + B4C as reinforcements show considerable improvements on wear rate and weight loss.
AliKSARaviSMohanavelV, et al.Effect of continuous fiber reinforcement on mechanical and tribological characteristics of cellulose and human hair fiber polymer composites. Results Eng2025; 25: 104480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104480
2.
Martínez-RubioPMAvilésMDCarrión-VilchesFJ, et al.Characterization and tribological performance of new epoxy coatings modified with sustainable ionic liquid-graphene nanolubricants. Prog Org Coat2024; 197: 108841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108841
3.
TóthLFSukumaranJSzebényiG, et al.Large-scale tribological characterisation of eco-friendly basalt and jute fibre reinforced thermoset composites. Wear2020; 450-451: 203274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2020.203274
4.
PrasannaSMYogeshaKBMruthunjayaM, et al.ScienceDirect mechanical and tribological characterization of hybrid composites. A Review2020, [Online]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/
5.
MylsamyBAruchamyKMaheshwariA, et al. Evolution and recent advancements of composite materials in aerospace applications. In: Madhu PuttegowdaYashas GowdaT. G.BinojJ. S. (eds) Applications of composite materials in engineering. Elsevier, 2025, pp. 139–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-13989-5.00006-1
6.
EsmailiATaheri‐BehroozF. Post‐curing effect on the mode I fracture toughness of the glass/epoxy laminates. Polym Compos2025; 46(7): 6571–6581. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.29378
7.
AlharbiSAlshabibAAlgamaiahH, et al.Influence of post-printing polymerization time on flexural strength and microhardness of 3D printed resin composite. Coatings2025; 15(2): 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15020230
8.
JayasingheRRamosMNandA, et al.Selective functionalization of MWCNTs: enhancing wear mechanisms and friction‐induced graphitization in epoxy composites. Macromol Mater Eng2025; 310: e00088. https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202500088
9.
Sarath KumarPJayanarayananKDeerajBDS, et al.Synergistic effect of carbon fabric and multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the fracture, wear and dynamic load response of epoxy-based multiscale composites. Polym Bull2022; 79(7): 5063–5084. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03742-6
10.
PatelVJoshiUJoshiA, et al.Multi-walled carbon-nanotube-reinforced PMMA nanocomposites: an experimental study of their friction and wear properties. Polymers2023; 15(13): 2785. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132785
11.
FinckNSFragaMAACorrerAB, et al.Comparative evaluation of mechanical and thermal properties of 3D-printed restorative polymers: effects of resin type, printer technology, and post-curing time. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater2025; 172: 107166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107166
12.
BabbarASinghGSinghV, et al.Progress and recent developments in carbon nanotube (CNT) based composite coatings for tribological and bio-tribological applications. J Ind Eng Chem2025; 148: 196–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2025.01.031
13.
DabeesSHendersonLCHayneDJ. Carbon fibre surface modification and its effects on adhesion, mechanical, and tribological behaviour of high-performance thermoplastics. Compos B Eng2025; 306: 112758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2025.112758
Soto-MonteroJde CastroEFRomanoBde C, et al.Color alterations, flexural strength, and microhardness of 3D printed resins for fixed provisional restoration using different post-curing times. Dent Mater2022; 38(8): 1271–1282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2022.06.023
16.
MontazeriAMontazeriN. Viscoelastic and mechanical properties of multi walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites with different nanotube content. Mater Des2011; 32(4): 2301–2307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2010.11.003
17.
SahuYKArjunanTVSinghS, et al.Investigation of shape memory and mechanical properties of MWCNT and graphene Nano filler reinforced epoxy composite. J Polym Res2025; 32(9): 298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-025-04507-9
18.
de VilloriaRGMiraveteACuarteroJ, et al.Mechanical properties of SWNT/epoxy composites using two different curing cycles. Compos B Eng2006; 37(4–5): 273–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2006.01.002
19.
HiremathSVHiremathCRTikotkarRG. Optimization of tribological property of carbon fiber reinforced Nano filler filled polymer composites using Taguchi method. AIP Conf Proc2020; 2274: 030035. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0023102
20.
OlszowskaKGodzierzMPuszS, et al.Development of epoxy composites with graphene nanoplatelets and micro-sized carbon foam: morphology and thermal, mechanical and tribological properties. Tribol Int2023; 185: 108556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2023.108556
WazalwarRTripathiNRaichurAM. Mechanical and curing behavior of epoxy composites reinforced with polystyrene-graphene oxide (PS-GO) core-shell particles. Composites Part C: Open Access2021; 5: 100128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomc.2021.100128
23.
JoshiSKKumarAMahtabS, et al. Modification in mechanical, tribological & electrical properties of epoxy at low weight fraction of multiwalled carbon nanotube. In: Sabu Thomas (ed) Materials today: proceedings. Elsevier Ltd, 2019, pp. 1836–1840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.02.394
24.
KunishimaTNagaiYNagaiS, et al.Effects of glass fiber properties and polymer molecular mass on the mechanical and tribological properties of a polyamide-66-based composite in contact with carbon steel under grease lubrication. Wear2020; 462(463): 203500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2020.203500
25.
LiFMaYChenL, et al.In-situ polymerization of polyurethane/aniline oligomer functionalized graphene oxide composite coatings with enhanced mechanical, tribological and corrosion protection properties. Chem Eng J2021; 425: 130006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.130006
SzelugaUOlszowskaKPuszS, et al.Effect of grain fractions of crushed carbon foam on morphology and thermomechanical and tribological properties of random epoxy-carbon composites. Wear2021; 466-467: 203558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2020.203558
28.
Kazemi-KhasraghEBahari-SambranFPlatzerC, et al.The synergistic effect of graphene nanoplatelets–montmorillonite hybrid system on tribological behavior of epoxy-based nanocomposites. Tribol Int2020; 151: 106472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2020.106472
29.
KumarDSShuklaMJMahatoKK, et al.Effect of post-curing on thermal and mechanical behavior of GFRP composites. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng2015; 75: 012012. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/75/1/012012
30.
GaylanYAvarBPanigrahiM, et al.Effect of the B4C content on microstructure, microhardness, corrosion, and neutron shielding properties of Al–B4C composites. Ceram Int2023; 49(3): 5479–5488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.10.071
31.
AlarifiIM. Investigation into the structural, chemical and high mechanical reforms in B4C with graphene composite material substitution for potential shielding frame applications. Molecules2021; 26(7): 1921. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26071921
32.
SamalPRajHMeherA, et al.Synergistic effect of B4C and multi-walled CNT on enhancing the tribological performance of aluminum A383 hybrid composites. Lubricants2024; 12(6): 213. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12060213
33.
ÇanakçıAKarabacakAHÇelebiM, et al.A study on the optimization of Nano-B4C content for the best wear and corrosion properties of the Al-based hybrid nanocomposites. Arab J Sci Eng2024; 49(11): 14625–14641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-024-08736-w
