Abstract:
A sliding component (100), such as a sliding component for an engine, has an overlay (106) which forms the bearing surface against a steel journal or the like. The overlay (106) is formed from a matrix of polymeric material, and graphene platelets functionalised with –O and/or –F groups are dispersed within the matrix. An overlay material, a graphene platelet filler, and a method of forming an overlay are also provided.
Abstract:
A sliding engine component having a plastic polymer-based composite layer on a substrate, the composite layer comprising: a matrix of plastic polymer-based material having distributed throughout the matrix; functionalised graphene nano platelets.
Abstract:
A bearing element comprises a bearing element substrate (4) and a sliding layer (5) of a sliding layer material. The sliding layer material comprises a polymeric material and nanodiamonds. The nanodiamonds are surface-functionalised nanodiamonds, they comprise one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen (-H), hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2) and nitro (02N). The nanodiamonds preferably have an average particle size of between about 1 nm and about 10nm. Preferably, the nanodiamonds are detonation produced nanodiamonds. The bearing element may be particularly suitable for automotive applications and may provide enhanced resistance to wear and fatigue.