Mechanical-thermal synergy in three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide-boron nitride dual networks enhanced tribological property of epoxy composites

The insufficient dispersion and random orientation of nanofillers in composite materials fundamentally constrain the enhancement of their tribological properties. To address these inherent limitations, a strategy was developed to assemble graphene oxide (GO) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) into three-dimensional interconnected architectures (3DGB) via directional freeze-casting, achieving controlled alignment of these components. The sheet-sheet integration of h-BN and graphene nanosheets facilitates structural stabilization of 3DGB network through interfacial stress redistribution mechanisms, concurrently improving fracture resistance characteristics. The fabricated 3DGB serves as an optimized framework substrate for epoxy resin (EP) composites in resin transfer molding method, yielding substantial improvements in tribological property while achieving synergistic enhancements in both load-bearing capacity and interfacial adhesion. Comparative analysis demonstrates that the 3DGB/EP composites exhibit a concurrent enhancement in properties of combination relative to pristine epoxy. Specifically, their 37.5% increase in tensile strength and 33% thermal conductivity enhancement compared to pristine epoxy. Notably, 3DGB significantly boosts the tribological performance of epoxy, evidenced by 72.1% reduction in kinetic friction coefficients and 90.12% decrease of specific wear rates. This strategy establishes a novel paradigm for hierarchical design of high-performance composites and offers new insights into the integration of multi-component 2D fillers and tribology-based multifunctional composites.