Synergistically assembled RGO/Si3N4 whiskers hybrid aerogels to endow epoxy composites with excellent thermal and tribological performance

Abstract Epoxy resin (EP) composites with satisfactory thermal and tribological performance are highly required for engineering moving components. However, the simple addition of fillers leaded to serious filler agglomeration limited promotion in properties. In this work, we constructed a new kind three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Si 3 N 4 hybrid aerogel EP composites, which was prepared by facile hydrothermal self-assembly method followed freeze-drying technique. As result, dispersibility Si whiskers greatly improved through wrapping polydopamine—polyethyleneimine copolymer (PDA—PEI) physical spacing 3D skeleton. Furthermore, benefiting from synergistic effect RGO @PDA—PEI network, conductivity RGO/Si (GSiA)—EP increased 45.4% compared that neat EP. addition, friction coefficient wear rate GSiA—EP decreased 83.7% 35.8%, respectively. This work is significant opening enhancement strategy though constructing architecture.