Tribological and Corrosion Performance of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Nanochitosan Reinforced Silicone Oil Coatings on Metal Surfaces
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32734/jotp.v8i2.25447Keywords:
Corrosion, Nanochitosan, rGO, Tribofilm, Wear ResistanceAbstract
Friction, wear, and corrosion critically affect the durability and reliability of metallic components in engineering and marine environments. Despite the established potential of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), nanochitosan, and silicone oil, their combined contribution within a multifunctional surface treatment remains insufficiently established. Here, an rGO/nanochitosan-reinforced silicone oil (PDMS) formulation was developed and assessed on aluminium and copper substrates through X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface roughness, coefficient of friction (CoF), wear rate, and corrosion rate measurements. XRD revealed rGO reflections at 2θ = 26.3° and 43.1° and nanochitosan reflections at 10.1° and 20.1°, with apparent crystallite sizes of 6.54–9.87 nm. The formulation containing 0.3 wt% rGO exhibited the most favorable response, lowering surface roughness, CoF, wear rate, and corrosion rate by approximately 40, 90, 86, and 90%, respectively, relative to uncoated surfaces. These findings establish a structure–performance relationship in the ternary rGO/nanochitosan/PDMS system, highlighting the role of optimized reinforcement content in achieving balanced tribological and corrosion resistance. The developed approach offers practical potential for metallic components operating under coupled mechanical and corrosive conditions.
Downloads
References
[1] K. Holmberg and A. Erdemir, "Influence of tribology on global energy consumption, costs and emissions," Friction, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 263–284, 2017.
[2] K. Holmberg and A. Erdemir, "The impact of tribology on energy use and CO2 emission globally and in combustion engine and electric cars," Tribology International, vol. 135, pp. 389–396, 2019.
[3] H. Wang, X. Chen, C. Kang, Y. Tang, J. Sun, Z. Wang, et al., "Janus PVDF-modified melamine sponge composite for high-efficiency solar seawater desalination," ACS Applied Polymer Materials, vol. 7, no. 10, pp. 6427–6438, 2025.
[4] Z. Pan, C. Cai, and R. Liu, "Synthesis of a multifunctional silicone oil exhibiting high-temperature resistance and its application in high-temperature resistant lubricating oil," Silicon, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 2559–2572, 2025.
[5] T. Aziz, H. Fan, F. U. Khan, M. Haroon, and L. Cheng, "Modified silicone oil types, mechanical properties and applications," Polymer Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 2129–2145, 2019.
[6] X. Luan, E. Zhang, Y. Chen, R. Ma, K. Gong, W. Li, and X. Wang, "Chemically modified silicone oil with enhanced tribological and anti-foaming properties," Lubricants, vol. 10, no. 12, p. 364, 2022.
[7] M. Venczel, G. Bognár, and Á. Veress, "Temperature-dependent viscosity model for silicone oil and its application in viscous dampers," Processes, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 331, 2021.
[8] Z. Wang, G. Zhao, K. Gong, S. Liu, S. Bai, X. Wang, and Z. Xu, “Effect of different silicone oils on the tribological and rheological properties of nano-silica-based grease at high temperatures,” Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 844-854, 2026.
[9] T. Wang, J. Yang, S. Chen, Y. Sun, X. Jia, and H. Song, “Long-term stable superlubricity coatings enabled by the interaction between the polydimethylsiloxane brush and silicone oil,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 11134-11144, 2024.
[10] A. Rosenkranz, Y. Liu, L. Yang, and L. Chen, "2D nano-materials beyond graphene: From synthesis to tribological studies," Applied Nanoscience, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 3353–3388, 2020.
[11] G. Zhao, X. Li, M. Huang, Z. Zhen, Y. Zhong, Q. Chen, et al., "The physics and chemistry of graphene-on-surfaces," Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 46, no. 15, pp. 4417–4449, 2017.
[12] P. Raturi, “Graphene-Based Nanocomposites and Their Applications,” in Advances in Emerging Materials in Electronics, Energy, and Biotechnology: Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications, S. Seo, S. Gupta, S. Kumar, and C. S. Pathak, Eds. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 2026, pp. 378–404. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003581550.
[13] B. Jin, G. Chen, Y. He, C. Zhang, and J. Luo, "Lubrication properties of graphene under harsh working conditions," Materials Today Advances, vol. 18, p. 100369, 2023.
[14] S. Chen, B. Shen, Y. Chen, and F. Sun, "Synergistic friction-reducing and anti-wear behaviors of graphene with micro- and nano-crystalline diamond films," Diamond and Related Materials, vol. 73, pp. 25–32, 2017.
[15] X. Ye, X. Liu, Z. Yang, Z. Wang, H. Wang, J. Wang, and S. Yang, “Tribological properties of fluorinated graphene reinforced polyimide composite coatings under different lubricated conditions,” Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, vol. 81, pp. 282-288, 2016.
[16] D. Berman, S. A. Deshmukh, S. K. R. S. Sankaranarayanan, A. Erdemir, and A. V. Sumant, "Macroscale superlubricity enabled by graphene nanoscroll formation," Science, vol. 348, no. 6239, pp. 1118–1122, 2015.
[17] J. Sun and S. Du, "Application of graphene derivatives and their nanocomposites in tribology and lubrication: A review," RSC Advances, vol. 9, no. 69, pp. 40642–40661, 2019.
[18] M. Sarno, D. Scarpa, A. Senatore, and W. A. A. Mustafa, "rGO/GO nanosheets in tribology: From the state of the art to the future prospective," Lubricants, vol. 8, no. 3, p. 31, 2020.
[19] A. Sharma, and S. Sharma, “Graphene-based polymer coatings for preventing marine corrosion: A review,” Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 413-432, 2023.
[20] L. M. Muresan, "Nanocomposite coatings for anti-corrosion properties of metallic substrates," Materials, vol. 16, no. 14, p. 5092, 2023.
[21] M. S. Selim, S. A. El-Safty, M. A. Abbas, and M. A. Shenashen, "Facile design of graphene oxide-ZnO nanorod-based ternary nanocomposite as a superhydrophobic and corrosion-barrier coating," Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 611, p. 125793, 2021.
[22] T. Liu, W. Lyu, Z. Li, S. Wang, X. Wang, J. Jiang, and X. Jiang, "Recent progress on corrosion mechanisms of graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites," Nanotechnology Reviews, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 20220566, 2023.
[23] H. Assad, I. A. Lone, A. Sihmar, A. Kumar, and A. Kumar, "An overview of contemporary developments and the application of graphene-based materials in anticorrosive coatings," Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 32, no. 28, pp. 16958–16977, 2025.
[24] A. Zeinedini and M. M. Shokrieh, "Agglomeration phenomenon in graphene/polymer nanocomposites: Reasons, roles, and remedies," Applied Physics Reviews, vol. 11, p. 041301, 2024.
[25] M. A. Rahman, S. M. Hasnain, R. Zairov, and R. Kumar, "Recent advances in nanocomposites and nano-adsorbents for heavy metal and dye removal from water," Cleaner Water, vol. 5, p. 100215, 2026.
[26] M. Sharma, P. Kumar, and J. Singh, "Eco-friendly nanofillers as additives," in Handbook of Nanofillers, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2025, pp. 1709–1728.
[27] Y. D. Yolanda, F. Zahra, M. Nurhayati, and F. Khoerunnisa, "Synthesis and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles by ionic gelation method," in Engineering Physics International Conference 2021 (EPIC 2021), vol. 2580, no. 1, p. 050017, AIP Publishing LLC, May 2023.
[28] L. Yang, X. Zhao, J. Zhang, S. Ma, L. Jiang, Q. Wei, M. Cai, and F. Zhou, “Synthesis of charged chitosan nanoparticles as functional biolubricant,” Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, vol. 206, p. 111973, 2021.
[29] A. H. Abdel-Salam and A. Morsy, "Development of cellulose acetate/nano chitosan-silver nanoparticle mixed matrix membranes with enhanced water treatment and fouling resistance," Polymer Engineering & Science, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 3665-3678, 2026.
[30] S. Shankar, S. Joshi, and R. K. Srivastava, "A review on heavy metal biosorption utilizing modified chitosan," Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 195, no. 11, p. 1350, 2023.
[31] O. A. A. Ali, M. E. Owda, M. M. Elsawy, and H. A. El-Wahab, “Utilization of ecofriendly organic nanomaterial based on prepared chitosan nanoparticles with outstanding corrosion resistance activity in primer coatings,” Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 306-315, 2026.
[32] A. A. Aguilar-Ruiz, R. G. Sánchez-Duarte, V. M. Orozco-Carmona, G. E. Devora-Isiordia, Y. Villegas-Peralta, and J. Álvarez-Sánchez, J. “Chitosan and its derivatives as a barrier anti-corrosive coating of 304 stainless steel against corrosion in 3.5% sodium chloride solution,” Coatings, vol. 14, no. 10, p. 1244, 2024.
[33] C. Verma, M. A. Quraishi, A. Alfantazi, and K. Y. Rhee, "Corrosion inhibition potential of chitosan based Schiff bases: Design, performance and applications," International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 184, pp. 135–143, 2021.
[34] M. Hamid, I. Dayana, D. Sholeha, M. F. Siregar, I. Roza, M. Rianna, and H. Wijoyo, "Eco-friendly utilization of chitosan from shrimp shells for used lubricating oil cleaning," Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, vol. 18, p. 100368, 2025.
[35] E. Akdaşçi, H. Duman, F. Eker, M. Bechelany, and S. Karav, "Chitosan and its nanoparticles: A multifaceted approach to antibacterial applications," Nanomaterials, vol. 15, no. 2, p. 126, 2025.
[36] H. P. Zhang, B. Yang, Z. M. Wang, C. Xie, P. Tang, L. Bian, F. Dong, and Y. Tang, “Porous graphene oxide/chitosan nanocomposites based on interfacial chemical interactions,” European Polymer Journal, vol. 119, pp. 114-119, 2019.
[37] R. K. Mishra, S. Goel, and A. Sharma, “Multifunctional chitin, chitosan, and nano-chitosan composites for water purification, eco-friendly packaging, flexible electronics, clean energy, and biomedical solutions: A comprehensive review,” Polymer Bulletin, vol. 83, no. 5, p. 269, 2026.
[38] S. Girish and P. Tambe, "Surfactant assisted exfoliation of high purity graphene in aqueous solution as a nanofluid using kitchen blender: Influence on dispersion, thermal conductivity and rheological properties," Advanced Powder Technology, vol. 33, no. 10, p. 103767, 2022.
[39] S. Hamze, D. Cabaleiro, and P. Estellé, "Graphene-based nanofluids: A comprehensive review about rheological behavior and dynamic viscosity," Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 325, p. 115207, 2021.
[40] B. Luo, X. Wang, H. Sun, and L. Li, "Dielectric, ferroelectric, and thermodynamic properties of silicone oil modified PVDF films for energy storage application," Applied Physics Letters, vol. 108, no. 24, 2016.
[41] Y. Jiang, Z. Zhang, and Y. Qi, “The compatibility of three silicone oils with polydimethylsiloxane and the microstructure and properties of their composite coatings,” Polymers, vol. 13, no. 14, p. 2355, 2021.
[42] A. M. Kumar, M. A. Hussein, B. Suresh, S. Ramakrishna, S. Saravanan, and M. Javid, "Multifunctional poly (lactic acid)/vanillin coatings on drug loaded titanium nanotube arrays for improved biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial characteristics," Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 32844, 2025.
[43] N. J. Tamanna, M. S. Hossain, N. M. Bahadur, and S. Ahmed, “Green synthesis and characterization of silver (Ag) nanoparticles: Crystallographic analysis from X-ray diffraction,” Chemistry of Inorganic Materials, vol. 8, p. 100144, 2026.
[44] K. M. Kumar, P. V. Shanmuganathan, and A. Sethuramiah, "Tribology of silicon surfaces: A review," Materials Today: Proceedings, vol. 5, no. 11, pp. 24809–24819, 2018.
[45] R. Leach, H. Haitjema, R. Su, and A. Thompson, "Metrological characteristics for the calibration of surface topography measuring instruments: A review," Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 32, no. 3, p. 032001, 2021.
[46] J. Guegan, M. Southby, and H. Spikes, "Friction modifier additives, synergies and antagonisms," Tribology Letters, vol. 67, no. 3, p. 83, 2019.
[47] L. H. Prado et al., "Silicone-based lubricant-infused slippery coating covalently bound to aluminum substrates for underwater applications," ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 15, no. 26, pp. 31776–31786, 2023.
[48] Z. Yu, A. T. Lim, S. L. Kollasch, H. D. Jang, and J. Huang, "Oil-based self-healing barrier coatings: To flow and not to flow," Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 30, no. 2, p. 1906273, 2020.
[49] N. Anis, C. Lai, and B. Ong, "A review of graphene oxide crosslinking as enhanced corrosion shield application," Journal of Renewable Materials, vol. 11, no. 6, p. 2745, 2023.
[50] A. Murari, A. Arathi, U. Sirimahachai, S. Rao, and G. Hegde, "Corrosion inhibition of mild steel using eco-friendly porous nanocarbon derived from waste mango kernels: A step towards sustainability," RSC Advances, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 6915–6930, 2026.
[51] N. Li, H. Wang, Q. Liu, Z. Hao, D. Xu, X. Chen, et al., "Review of preparation and key functional properties of micro-arc oxidation coatings on various metal substrates," Coatings, vol. 15, no. 10, p. 1201, 2025.
[52] F. M. Li, L. Huang, S. Zaman, W. Guo, H. Liu, X. Guo, and B. Y. Xia, "Corrosion chemistry of electrocatalysts," Advanced Materials, vol. 34, no. 52, p. 2200840, 2022.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Technomaterial Physics
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
