To read this content please select one of the options below:

Experimental investigation on the tribological properties of modified carbon nanotubes as the additive in castor oil

Shanhua Qian (School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Food Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China)
Hongyue Wang (School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China)
Chuanhui Huang (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Large Engineering Equipment Detection and Control, Xuzhou Institute of Technology, Xuzhou, China)
Yongwu Zhao (School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China)

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology

ISSN: 0036-8792

Article publication date: 9 April 2018

193

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to modify carbon nanotubes with oleic acid, and to study the tribological properties of castor oil with modified carbon nanotubes additives. The proper additives are sought for the future engineering application of castor oil.

Design/methodology/approach

Tribological properties of the castor oils mixed with the modified carbon nanotubes of four mass percentages were investigated using a four-ball testing rig. Coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter were obtained in each test, and the mechanism of modified carbon nanotubes and castor oil was discussed.

Findings

The results indicated that modified carbon nanotubes had better dispersion in castor oil. Coefficient of friction first increased, then decreased and finally grew stable with the time, and wear scar diameter of steel surface functioned as a first reduced then increased change with the additive mass percentage of modified carbon nanotubes. The minimum of average coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter occurred at 0.02 Wt.% modified carbon nanotubes.

Originality/value

A small amount of modified carbon nanotubes could improve properties of the castor oil, and the mixed castor oil with 0.02 Wt.% modified carbon nanotubes would be most possibly used in engineering applications.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work was financially sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51205168, 51675232) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Large Engineering Equipment Detection and Control (Xuzhou Institute of Technology) (JSKLEDC201504). The authors gratefully acknowledge their financial support.

Citation

Qian, S., Wang, H., Huang, C. and Zhao, Y. (2018), "Experimental investigation on the tribological properties of modified carbon nanotubes as the additive in castor oil", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 70 No. 3, pp. 499-505. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-05-2017-0138

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles