Synergistic effects of multiwalled carbon nanotube/molybdenum disulfide hybrid particles on the mechanical and wear performance of epoxy

Three‐dimensional hybrids consisting of one‐dimensional multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and two‐dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) microsheets were fabricated in a hydrothermal environment and designated Hybrid‐HT. Interestingly neither the MWCNTs nor the MoS₂ sheets could be suspended in water, whereas the MWCNTs/MoS₂ hybrid could be stably suspended. The formation of a MWCNTs/MoS₂ aqueous suspension is attributed to repulsive Coulombic interactions between the MWCNTs and MoS₂ sheets. Evident synergistic effects of the MWCNTs and MoS₂ sheets on the mechanical and wear performance of epoxy are observed in ternary composites containing Hybrid‐HT. The tensile strength and fracture toughness are simultaneously enhanced, as the tensile strength and impact strength are improved by 36% and 53%, respectively. Furthermore, the elongation at break of the ternary composite shows a 127% increase with respect to that of neat epoxy. The friction coefficient and wear rate decreases by 36% and 8%, and the worn surface is extremely smooth and retains almost the entire coating. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1642–E1648, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers