Exploring the frictional characteristics of kelp liquid as an environmentally friendly lubricant

Abstract

PurposeKelp is widely productive and inexpensive. The purpose of this study is to explore kelp liquid (KL) as an environment-friendly water-based lubricant, which is expected to replace some industrial lubricants and protect the environment while satisfying lubricating performance.Design/methodology/approachIn this experiment, the soaked kelp was broken up by a wall-breaking machine to get the KL by a centrifuge. Elements and crystal structure of KL samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. The friction test is carried out by the relative movement of the polyethylene ball and the aluminum disk on the friction tester.FindingsFriction experiments showed that 0.1 Wt.% KL has a good lubrication effect, and the average coefficient of friction is 0.063 under the condition of applying a 10 N load and moving at a speed of 2.0 cm/s. KL has good thermal conductivity with excellent cooling effect and high intermolecular force which makes high viscosity for excellent lubricating behavior, at the meantime molecules in solution remain stable which shows an excellent dispersibility.Originality/valueAt present, the research on kelp mainly focuses on its medicinal value and abundant nutritional value, and the research on its lubrication effect is less. Based on this situation, this paper explored the characteristics of KL as an environmentally friendly lubricant, which is expected to be used as a green cutting fluid.