Thermo-mechanical and tribological properties of SU-8/h-BN composite with SN150/perfluoropolyether filler

In this study, SU-8 and its composites are fabricated by blending 10 wt.% hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) fillers with/without lubricants, such as 10 wt.% base oil(SN150) and 20 wt.% perfluoropolyether(PFPE). The thickness of SU-8 and its composites coating is fabricated in the range ~100–105 μm. Further, SU-8 and its composites are characterized by a 3D optical profilometer, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, a thermal gravimetric analyzer, a goniometer, a hardness tester, and an optical microscope. Under a tribology test performed at different normal loads of 2, 4, and 6 N and at a constant sliding speed of 0.28 m/s, the reduction in the initial and steady-state coefficient of friction is obtained to be ~0.08 and ~0.098, respectively, in comparison to SU-8(~0.42 and ~0.75), and the wear resistance is enhanced by more than 103 times that of pure SU-8. Moreover, the thermal stability is improved by ~80–120 ℃, and the hardness and elastic modulus by ~3 and ~2 times that of pure SU-8, respectively. The SU-8 composite reinforced with 10 wt.% h-BN and 20 wt.% PFPE demonstrated the best thermo-mechanical and tribological properties with a nano-textured surface of high hydrophobicity.