Possessing unique designs and properties absent in conventional materials, nanocomposites have made a remarkable imprint in science and technology. This is particularly true regarding the polymer matrix composites when they are further reinforced with nanoparticles. In this study, the effects of different weight percentages (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) of surface‐modified graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the microhardness and wear properties of basalt fibers/epoxy composites were investigated. The GNPs were surface modified by silane, and the composites were made by the hand lay‐up method. The wear tests were conducted under two different loads of 20 and 40 N. The best wear properties were achieved at 0.3 wt % GNPs as a result of the GNPs' self‐lubrication property and the formation of a stable transfer/lubricating film at the pin and disk interface. Moreover, the friction coefficient was lower at the higher normal load of 40 N. The microscopic studies by FESEM and SEM showed that the presence of GNPs up to 0.3 wt % led to the stability of the transfer/lubricating film by enhancing the adhesion of the basalt fibers to the epoxy resin. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47986.

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The mechanical properties of nanocomposites are significantly affected by the dispersion of nanofillers. In this study, the synergetic effect of hybrid fillers, including surfacemodified montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the dispersion quality and mechanical characteristics of epoxy‐based nanocomposites was investigated. It was manifested that the incorporation of GNPs‐MMT hybrid into pure epoxy improves the dispersion of nanoplatelets and consequently, the tensile and flexural properties. The maximum tensile and flexural strength was obtained for the sample containing 0.15 wt% GNPs and 1 wt% MMT that was 19% and 17.4% higher than the neat epoxy, respectively. The experimental analyses were followed by Mori–Tanaka, Halpin–Tsai, and two‐parameter Weibull distribution methods to model the mechanical behavior of nanocomposites. The modeling and experimental results as well as the microscopic analysis revealed the variation of toughening mechanisms from micro to nano scale.