Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Optimisation of tribological parameters of graphene nanoplatelet/polytetrafluoroethylene nanocomposites under engineered aqueous conditions using Taguchi integrated technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method
This research evaluates the tribological performance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) against steel under aqueous conditions to correlate the impact of the GNP percentage in PTFE, the test environment and load. Trials were carried out on a pin-on-disc reciprocating tribometer following Taguchi's L32 design. Analysis of variance revealed that GNP percentage and environment are the dominant factors affecting the average coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR), respectively. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was utilised to optimise the response variables (COF and SWR). Field emission scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to assess the worn surfaces. The outcomes established that the seawater environment remarkably decreased COF and SWR, and 5 wt. % GNP/PTFE performs best. TOPSIS demonstrates that a 5 N load, GNP percentage 5%, and seawater yield optimum performance.
ChenBWangJYanF. Synergism of carbon fiber and polyimide in polytetrafluoroethylene-based composites: Friction and wear behavior under sea water lubrication. Mater Des2012; 36: 366–371.
2.
BlanchetTAKennedyFE. Sliding wear mechanism of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and PTFE composites. Wear1992; 153: 229–243.
3.
LewisMWJ. Friction and wear of PTFE-based reciprocating seals. Lubr Eng1986; 42: 152–158.
4.
WangJYanFXueQ. Tribological behavior of PTFE sliding against steel in sea water. Wear2009; 267: 1634–1641.
5.
KhanMSLehmannDHeinrichG. Modification of PTFE nanopowder by controlled electron beam irradiation: a useful approach for the development of PTFE coupled EPDM compounds. Express Polym Lett2008; 2: 284–293.
6.
TanakaK. Effects of various fillers on the friction and wear of PTFE-based composites. In: FriedrichK (ed.) Composite materials series. 1. Harburg, Hamburg, F.R.G.: Elsevier, 1986, pp.137–174.
7.
KhedkarJNegulescuIMeletisEI. Sliding wear behavior of PTFE composites. Wear2002; 252: 361–369.
8.
UnalHMimarogluAKadiogluU, et al.Sliding friction and wear behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene and its composites under dry conditions. Mater Des2004; 25: 239–245.
9.
GoyalRKYadavM. Study on wear and friction behavior of graphite flake-filled PTFE composites. J Appl Polym Sci2013; 127: 3186–3191.
10.
WangYYanF. Tribological properties of transfer films of PTFE-based composites. Wear2006; 261: 1359–1366.
11.
ShiYJFengXWangHY, et al.Effects of filler crystal structure and shape on the tribological properties of PTFE composites. Tribol Int2007; 40: 1195–1203.
12.
BahadurSTaborD. The wear of filled polytetrafluoroethylene. Wear1984; 98: 1–13.
13.
ConteMIgartuaA. Study of PTFE composites tribological behavior. Wear2012; 296: 568–574.
UnalHSenUMimarogluA. An approach to friction and wear properties of polytetrafluoroethylene composite. Mater Des2006; 27: 694–699.
18.
LiFYanFYYuLG, et al.The tribological behaviors of copper-coated graphite filled PTFE composites. Wear2000; 237: 33–38.
19.
ChengXXueYXieC. Tribological investigation of PTFE composite filled with lead and rare earths-modified glass fiber. Mater Lett2003; 57: 2553–2557.
20.
XiangDGuC. A study on the friction and wear behavior of PTFE filled with ultra-fine kaolin particulates. Mater Lett2006; 60: 689–692.
21.
JiaZNYangYLChenJJ, et al.Influence of serpentine content on tribological behaviors of PTFE/serpentine composite under dry sliding condition. Wear2010; 268: 996–1001.
22.
KandanurSSRafieeMAYavariF, et al.Suppression of wear in graphene polymer composites. Carbon N Y2012; 50: 3178–3183.
23.
LiFHuKLiJL, et al.The friction and wear characteristics of nanometer ZnO filled polytetrafluoroethylene. Wear2001; 249: 877–882.
24.
SawyerWGFreudenbergKDBhimarajP, et al.A study on the friction and wear behavior of PTFE filled with alumina nanoparticles. Wear2003; 254: 573–580.
25.
KalácskaG. An engineering approach to dry friction behaviour of numerous engineering plastics with respect to the mechanical properties. Express Polym Lett2013; 7: 199–210.
26.
KapitonovaIVTarasovaPNOkhlopkovaAA, et al.Frictional properties and wear of composites based on PTFE / layered silicates. Tribology Online2023; 18: 10–17.
27.
WibowoATakeichiYYamasakiT, et al.Effect of size of carbon fiber on the wear of PTFE composites and aluminum alloy counter face. Tribology Online2009; 4: 22–26.
28.
BijweJNejeSIndumathiJ, et al.Friction and wear performance evaluation of carbon fibre reinforced PTFE composite. J Reinf Plast Compos2002; 21: 1221–1240.
29.
XiangDLiKShuW, et al.On the tribological properties of PTFE filled with alumina nanoparticles and graphite. J Reinf Plast Compos2007; 26: 331–339.
30.
UnalHKurtulusEMimarogluA, et al.Tribological performance of PTFE bronze filled composites under wide range of application conditions. J Reinf Plast Compos2009; 29: 2184–2191.
31.
TianYLiRWangZ, et al.Hybrid of micro-aramid and nano-alumina prominently enhanced the wear resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2024; 44: 2138–2148.
32.
UnalHYetginSHMimarogluA, et al.The effect of test parameters on friction and wear performance of PTFE and PTFE composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2009; 29: 1978–1986.
33.
WangHZhuKTangZ, et al.Investigation of tribological behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene/graphene composite. Polym Compos2024; 45: 15293–15306.
34.
ShenJTVan RijnFPeiYT, et al.On the abrasiveness and reinforcement of fillers in PTFE/epoxy composites. Polym Compos2018; 39: 698–707.
35.
GuruSRPandaSKumarP, et al.A study on tribological performances of PEEK and PTFE based composites with MoS2 reinforcements. Polym Compos2024; 45: 7329–7345.
36.
LiJ. Friction and wear properties of PTFE composites filled with PA6. Polym Compos2010; 31: 38–42.
37.
DeshwalDBelgamwarSUBekinalSI, et al.Role of reinforcement on the tribological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene composites: A comprehensive review. Polym Compos2024; 45: 14475–14497.
38.
LiJ. Effect of PA6 content on mechanical and tribological properties of PA6-reinforced PTFE composites. Plast, Rubber Compos2009; 38: 201–205.
39.
LiWMaysSLamD. Material and finite element analysis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) rotary seals. Plast, Rubber Compos2002; 31: 359–363.
40.
LancasterJK. Lubrication of carbon fibre-reinforced polymers part I—water and aqueous solutions. Wear1972; 20: 315–333.
41.
WangJZYanFYXueQJ. Tribological behaviors of some polymeric materials in sea water. Chin Sci Bull2009; 54: 4541–4548.
42.
ChenBWangJYanF. Microstructure of PTFE-based polymer blends and their tribological behaviors under aqueous environment. Tribol Lett2012; 45: 387–395.
43.
PYQPH. Friction and wear property of glass fiber filled polytetrafluoroethylene under sea water lubrication. Hydromechatronics Eng2016; 44: 12–18.
44.
KhanMJWaniMFGuptaR, et al.Tribological performance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in aqueous environments and dry sliding, https://www.ssrn.com/en/index.cfm/engrn/ (2018).
45.
KhanMJWaniMFGuptaR. Tribological properties of glass fiber filled polytetrafluoroethylene sliding against stainless steel under dry and aqueous environments: enhanced tribological performance in sea water. Mater Res Express2018; 5: 055309.
46.
JebranMWaniMFGuptaR. Tribological performance evaluation of polytetrafluoroethylene composites under dry sliding and aqueous environments using Taguchi approach and grey relational analysis: effect of material, test environment and load. Polym Compos2019; 40: 2863–2875.
47.
KhanMJGandotraHSaleemSS, et al.Effect of material hardness, counter-face hardness and load on the tribological properties of virgin and glass filled PTFE using Taguchi Approach. J Phys: Conf Ser2019; 1240: 012106.
48.
KhanMJWaniMFGuptaR. Tribological properties of bronze filled PTFE under dry sliding conditions and aqueous environments (distilled water and sea water. Int J Surf Sci Eng2018; 12: 348–364.
49.
JebranMWaniMFGuptaR. Tribological performance evaluation of polytetrafluoroethylene composites under dry sliding and aqueous environments using Taguchi approach and grey relational analysis: effect of material, test environment and load. Polym Compos2019; 40: 2863–2875.
50.
KhanMJWaniMFGuptaR.. Friction and wear characterization of graphite/Polytetrafluoroethylene composites against stainless steel: A comparative investigation under different environments. J Phys: Conf Ser2019; 1240: 012107. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1240/1/012107.
51.
NovoselovKS. Nobel lecture: graphene: materials in the flatland. Rev Mod Phys2011; 83: 837–849.
52.
SmolyanitskyAKillgoreJPTewaryVK. Effect of elastic deformation on frictional properties of few-layer graphene. Phys Rev B Condens Matter Mater Phys2012; 85: 035412.
53.
PrasaiDTuberquiaJCHarlRR, et al.Graphene: corrosion-inhibiting coating. ACS Nano2012; 6: 1102–1108.
54.
ChenSBrownLLevendorfM, et al.Oxidation resistance of graphene-coated Cu and Cu/Ni alloy. ACS Nano2011; 5: 1321–1327.
55.
WangYYuJDaiW, et al.Enhanced thermal and electrical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets. Polym Compos2015; 36: 556–565.
56.
ZhangLDongCYuanC, et al.The role of graphene nanoplatelets in the friction reducing process of polymer. Polym Compos2022; 43: 8213–8227.
57.
YuXDongXSongZ, et al.Fabrication of polyamide 6 nanocomposites reinforced by the exfoliated graphene. Plast, Rubber Compos2020; 49: 281–288.
58.
PeiHYangLXiongY, et al.Fabrication, characterisation and properties of polyvinyl alcohol/graphene nanocomposite for fused filament fabrication processing. Plast, Rubber Compos2021; 50: 263–275.
59.
KamarajMDodsonEADattaS. Thermal and viscoelastic behaviour of graphene nanoplatelets/flax fibre/epoxy composites. Plast, Rubber Compos2021; 50: 219–227.
60.
ShaheryarAKhanSQaiserH, et al.Mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid carbon fibre–phenolic matrix composites containing graphene nanoplatelets and graphite powder. Plast, Rubber Compos2017; 46: 431–441.
61.
Pasha baMBudanDABasavarajappaS, et al.Studies on wear resistance of PTFE filled with glass and bronze particles based on Taguchi technique. J Thermoplast Compos Mater2013; 26: 243–259.
62.
SudeepanJKumarKBarmanTK, et al.Study of friction and wear of ABS/Zno polymer composite using Taguchi technique. Procedia Materials Sci2014; 6: 391–400.
63.
Rashmi B, RenukappaNMSureshaB, et al.Dry sliding wear behaviour of organo-modified montmorillonite filled epoxy nanocomposites using Taguchi’s techniques. Mater Des2011; 32: 4528–4536.
64.
SudeepanJKumarKBarmanTK, et al.Tribological behavior of ABS/TiO2 polymer composite using Taguchi statistical analysis. Procedia Mater Sci2014; 5: 41–49.
65.
PattanaikASatpathyMPMishraSC. Dry sliding wear behavior of epoxy fly ash composite with Taguchi optimization. Eng Sci Technol Int J2016; 19: 710–716.
66.
RooyenLJBissettHKhoathaneMC, et al.Preparation of PTFE/graphene nanocomposites by compression moulding and free sintering: A guideline. J Appl Polym Sci2016; 133. DOI: 10.1002/app.43369.
67.
BhargavaSMakowiecMEBlanchetTA. Wear reduction mechanisms within highly wear-resistant graphene- and other carbon-filled PTFE nanocomposites. Wear2020; 444-445: 203163.
68.
KandanurSSRafieeMAYavariF, et al.Suppression of wear in graphene polymer composites. Carbon N Y2012; 50: 3178–3183.
69.
ZhaoZHChenJN. Preparation of single-polytetrafluoroethylene composites by the processes of compression molding and free sintering. Compos B Eng2011; 42: 1306–1310.
70.
WangZGaoD. Friction and wear properties of stainless steel sliding against polyetheretherketone and carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone under natural seawater lubrication. Mater Design2014; 53: 881–887.
71.
MilleroFJFeistelRWrightDG, et al.The composition of standard seawater and the definition of the reference-composition salinity scale. Deep Sea Res Part I2008; 55: 50–72.
72.
SinghGLal VirdiRGoyalK. Experimental investigation of slurry erosion behaviour of hard faced AISI 316L stainless steel. Univers J Mech Eng2015; 3: 52–56.
73.
AldajahSAlrawadehM. Sand Particles Impact on the Tribological Behavior of Sliding Contact. DOI: 10.1051/C.
74.
RoyRK. A primer on the Taguchi method. Michigan, USA: Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 1990.
75.
MilaniASShanianAMadoliatR, et al.The effect of normalization norms in multiple attribute decision making models: a case study in gear material selection. Struct Multidiscipl Optim2005; 29: 312–318.
76.
KwongCKTamSM. Case-based reasoning approach to concurrent design of low power transformers. J Mater Process Technol2002; 128: 136–141.
77.
JanicM. Multicriteria evaluation of high-speed rail, transrapid maglev and air passenger transport in Europe. Transp Plan Technol2003; 26: 491–512.
78.
SrdjevicBMedeirosYDPFariaAS. An objective multi-criteria evaluation of water management scenarios. Water Resour Manage2004; 18: 35–54.
79.
ShihHSShyurHJLeeES. An extension of TOPSIS for group decision making. Math Comput Model2007; 45: 801–813.
80.
LaiYJLiuTYHwangCL. TOPSIS For MODM. Eur J Oper Res1994; 76: 486–500.
81.
QinXSHuangGHChakmaA, et al.A MCDM-based expert system for climate-change impact assessment and adaptation planning – A case study for the Georgia Basin, Canada. Expert Syst Appl2008; 34: 2164–2179.
82.
DewanganSGangopadhyaySBiswasCK. Study of surface integrity and dimensional accuracy in EDM using fuzzy TOPSIS and sensitivity analysis. Measurement ( Mahwah N J)2015; 63: 364–376.
83.
JahanshahlooGRLotfiFHIzadikhahM. An algorithmic method to extend TOPSIS for decision-making problems with interval data. Appl Math Comput2006; 175: 1375–1384.
84.
Kumar PatnaikPKumar MishraSSwainPTR, et al.Multi-Objective optimization and experimental analysis of electro-discharge machining parameters via Gray-Taguchi, TOPSIS-Taguchi and PSI-Taguchi methods. Mater Today Proc2022; 62: 6189–6198.
85.
HwangCLMasudA. Multiple Objective Decision Making — Methods and Applications. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1979, Epub ahead of print 1979. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-45511-7.
86.
MirAHCharooMS. Tribological characteristics of graphene nanoplatelets-filled PTFE under dry sliding and sea water environmental conditions. J Reinf Plast Compos2024. DOI: 10.1177/07316844241284256.
87.
ZhangSW. Wet abrasion of polymers. Wear1992; 158: 1–13.
88.
LiCYanF. A comparative investigation of the wear behavior of PTFE and PI under dry sliding and simulated sand-dust conditions. Wear2009; 266: 632–638.
89.
AbidinMZRusliRShariffAM. Technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-entropy methodology for inherent safety design decision making tool. Procedia Eng2016; 148: 1043–1050.
