Development of additives using hybrid nanoparticles for high performance biodegradable lubricants

Abstract

The Industrial Revolution, begun in the second half of the eighteenth century, practically requiring the anthropogenic age of greenhouse gases. With this, it reorganized human activity, bringing new materials and fluids among other technologies to energy sources. Industrial production and human exploitation on the planet has skyrocketed in all sectors, causing consequent destruction and death around the world. It is estimated that one third of the world's energy will be consumed by friction, as well as the increased load-lubricant ratio on machine elements has resulted in excessive wear, with consequent soil and water contamination due to the disposal of used lubricants, while volatiles will be impairing air quality. Nanotechnology jointed with the vast field of atomic-scale surface science will be key factors in the evolution of lubricating and additive technologies, making it a major technological effort to improve fuel economy, reduce pollutant emissions and extend intervals. exchange. Traditional lubrication is based on two principles: fluid viscosity/pressure to separate and prevent surface contact; and sacrificial chemical film (tribolfilm) to protect the surface from adhesion and abrasion. Nanoparticle studies (NPs) have shown great potential in the field of tribology, in reference of nanoscale lubrication (friction and adhesion control) requires non-volatile lubricant molecules with high resistance to oxidation and thermal decomposition, good adhesion and cohesion as well as of self-repair. In this project, nanoadditives will be compared among a state-of-the-art baselines available on the market, and both experiments (DoE) with different levels and mixtures of surfactant-modified NPs will have their stability determined by viscosity analysis and FTIR transmittance. The selection tests will be performed in a Four Ball tribometer (ASTM D4172 and D2783), there the values of the friction coefficient and temperature of the nanolubricants will be acquired, and in the 2nd phase will be approved through tests in the respective equipment. The wear characteristics and particle incorporation (tribofilm and waste) in the contact region will be analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX) and diagnosis of the nanolubricants used. Preliminary results showed that mineral oil with Al2O3 NPs present lower coefficient of friction and lubricant temperature variation, while the addition of ZnO NPs showed better anti-wear behavior and load capacity. The best extreme pressure wear performance (588 N) was observed for the ZDDP organometallic additive. The results show the feasibility of using ceramics NPs as lubricating oil additives to replace active additives (such as ZDDP), considering hybrid NPs (mix of 2 or more Fe2O3 and Nb2O5 NPs) with 0.1 to 1% contents as well as using vegetable basic oil for seeking improved antioxidant capacity and a biodegradable products. (AU)