Study on the tribological behaviors of polyelectrolyte multilayers containing copper hydroxide nanoparticles

In this paper, we reported the tribological behaviors of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) containing copper hydroxide nanoparticles, polymer films were prepared by the sequential adsorption Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) alternately on substrate. The nucleation of copper hydroxide nanoparticles was achieved using a cyclical absorption-hydrolysis process in which copper ions were absorbed into the polymer matrix (which bind to the sulfonate groups) and then hydrolysis in an alkali solution. The structure and the morphology of before and after the in-situ synthesis copper hydroxide nanoparticles in the PEMs matrix have been explored. The coefficient of friction as a function of sliding velocity and normal load also has been studied. The composites exhibited increased wear resistance compared with the pristine polymer films. This may partly be attributed to the enhanced load-carrying capacity of the inorganic nanoparticles in the PEMs.