Optimisation of tribological parameters of graphene nanoplatelet/polytetrafluoroethylene nanocomposites under engineered aqueous conditions using Taguchi integrated technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method

This research evaluates the tribological performance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) against steel under aqueous conditions to correlate the impact of the GNP percentage in PTFE, the test environment and load. Trials were carried out on a pin-on-disc reciprocating tribometer following Taguchi's L32 design. Analysis of variance revealed that GNP percentage and environment are the dominant factors affecting the average coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR), respectively. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was utilised to optimise the response variables (COF and SWR). Field emission scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to assess the worn surfaces. The outcomes established that the seawater environment remarkably decreased COF and SWR, and 5 wt. % GNP/PTFE performs best. TOPSIS demonstrates that a 5 N load, GNP percentage 5%, and seawater yield optimum performance.