Effect of ionic liquid on the structure and tribological properties of polycarbonate–zinc oxide nanodispersion

Room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate has been added to PC + 0.5 wt.%ZnO nanocomposite in a 1.5 wt.% proportion to obtain PC + 0.5%ZnO + 1.5%IL. The new PC/ZnO/IL nanocomposite shows a 80% friction reduction and a wear reduction of nearly two orders of magnitude with respect to PC + 0.5%ZnO. The influence of IL on the size, morphology and distribution of ZnO nanoparticles in the PC matrix is discussed on the basis of scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electronic microscopic observations and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis.