Comparative Study of the Viscosities and Thermal Conductivities of Groundnut and Coconut Oils Dispersed with Graphene Particles Reinforced with Oleic Acid

Abstract

This study addresses some challenges accrued using mineral oil as cutting fluid and suggest alternatives to suitable, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable solution using vegetable oil. Oils extracted from vegetables are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and non-toxic compared with mineral oils. To investigate their optimal use for industrial applications, this study tested base oil's thermal-physical properties (kinematic viscosity and thermal conductivity). Temperatures of 400C and 1000C were considered for kinematic viscosity, and it was improved with the infusion of graphene nanoparticles and oleic acid. The thermal conductivities of the base oils at temperatures of 500C, 600C, and 700C were tested against the addition of graphene nanoparticles at the same temperatures with compositions of 0.001%, 0.003%, and 0.005%. Thermal conductivity of the groundnut oil at 50, 60 and 700C were 0.495, 0.320 and 0.225 Wm-1K-1. The average of the compositions at 50, 60 and 700C were 0.527, 0.33 and 0.25 Wm-1K-1. Compare to coconut oil at 50, 60 and 700C were 0.534, 0.318 and 0.214 Wm-1K-1, and the average of the compositions at 50, 60 and 700C were 0.622, 0.36 and 0.24 Wm-1K-1. Kinematic viscosity increments of coconut oil performed better than groundnut oil at 0.001wt% with 400C is 7.15% and 3.68% for groundnut oil. Groundnut edged coconut oil at 0.003wt% at 400C 17.98% and 11.83%. Similarly, with 0.005wt% at 1000C coconut oil improve with 63.70% compare 59.73% of groundnut oil. Groundnut oil has a higher viscosity index than coconut oil without the addition of nano-lubricant 436.3 and 209. With the infusion of nano-lubricant the average viscosity index for groundnut oil is 535.17 compare to 406.25 of the coconut oils. It can be verified that the infusion of graphene nanoparticles in both oils can be deployed in machining applications to reduce the friction between contacting surfaces and dissipate heat from the cutting zone.