Designing polydopamine-capped [BMIm]PF₆@halloysite/NaL microcapsule optimize the wear-resistance of polymer composite liner

Researchers have tried to encapsulate various lubricants with kinds of inorganic shell materials forming lubricant microcapsules. In this work, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have been employed as nanocontainers for loading ionic liquid (IL) of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm]PF6). To improve the uptake of [BMIm]PF6, the lumen is functionalized with sodium laurate (NaL) by electrostatic attractive forces. Besides, a polydopamine (PDA) layer uses as end-stopper to prevent IL premature release. Finally, the obtained PDA-capped [BMIm]PF6 @halloysite/NaL microcapsules are incorporated into phenolic resin based PBO/PTFE textile composite liner. Results demonstrate that the wear rate decrease from 0.96 x 10(-14) m(3)/(N center dot m) to 0.51 x 10(-14) m(3)/ (N center dot m) compared with pure composites owing to the robust tribofilm constructed on pin surface.