Carbon onion is added to an ionic liquid of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate (BMImBF
4) and then ultrasonically dispersed. After the mixture is centrifuged to remove excess BMImBF
4, the mixture loses liquidity and forms carbon onion gel like paste with viscoelasticity. The tribological properties of carbon onion gel are characterized in air and vacuum at room temperature and 200 degrees centigrade by ball-on-disk type friction testing. Carbon onion gel shows lower friction coefficient than neat BMImBF
4 in vacuum at room temperature and 200 degrees centigrade. Furthermore, epoxy resin coatings are prepared with the addition of carbon onion gel to reduce the influence of the viscoelasticity. The result of friction measurements in air is that epoxy resin including carbon onion gel is more lubricative than neat epoxy resin. Friction tests under various normal loads reveal that the coating including carbon onion gel exhibit lubricating behavior like semisolid lubricants such as grease. Epoxy resin coating including carbon onion gel also provides low and stable friction coefficient of 0.05-0.06 in vacuum.
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