Enhanced performance of bio-lubricant properties with nano-additives for sustainable lubrication
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 31 August 2022
Issue publication date: 13 October 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potentials of nano-additives in enhancement of oxidation and thermal stability of biolubricants thereby, improving the resistance of dispersed nanolubricants to thermal degradation under elevated temperature.
Design/methodology/approach
This study evaluates the oxidation stability and tribological performance of nano-enhanced biolubricants. Graphene and maghemite nanoparticles at 0.1% volume concentration were dispersed into coconut oil. Oxidation stability was analysed using a thermal analyser to understand the effect of nano-additives on thermal degradation of lubricants under increasing temperature. In addition, tribological performance and viscosity of the tested lubricants were evaluated using a four-ball friction tester and viscometer according to American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
Findings
The results reveal that the oxidation stability of biolubricants dispersed with nano-additives improves due to delayed thermal degradation. The nano-enhanced biolubricants’ oxidation onset temperature was delayed by 18.75 °C and 37.5 °C, respectively, for maghemite (MGCO) and graphene (XGCO) nanolubricants. This improvement imparts the performance viscosity and tribological performance positively. For graphene-enhanced nanolubricant, 10.4% and 5.6% were reduced, respectively, in coefficient of friction (COF)and wear scar diameter (WSD), whereas 3.43% and 4.3% reduction in COF and WSD, respectively, for maghemite-enhanced nanolubricant compared with coconut oil. The viscosity index of nanolubricants was augmented by 7.36% and 13.85%, respectively, for maghemite and graphene nanolubricants.
Research limitations/implications
The excellent performance of nanolubricants makes them suitable candidate as sustainable lubricants for machining with regard to environmental benefits and energy saving.
Originality/value
The effect of graphene and maghemite nanoparticles on the oxidation stability and tribological performance of biolubricants has been investigated. It is an original work and yet to be published elsewhere.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia for their cooperation and assistance throughout conducting this research. Special appreciation to the Research Management Centre of UTM for the financial support through the RUG funding Q. J130000.2551.20H94. The work was presented in the just concluded Malaysian Tribology Society conference, MITC2020ne.
Citation
Sadiq, I.O., Suhaimi, M.A., Sharif, S., Mohd Yusof, N. and Hisam, M.J. (2022), "Enhanced performance of bio-lubricant properties with nano-additives for sustainable lubrication", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 74 No. 9, pp. 995-1006. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-08-2021-0348
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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