Abstract
The augmentation of lubricant oil properties is key to protecting engines, bearings, and machine parts from damage due to friction and wear and minimizing energy lost in countering friction. The tribological and rheological properties of the lubricants are of utmost importance to prevent wear under unembellished conditions. The marginal addition of particulate and filamentous nanofillers enhances these properties, making the lubricant oil stable under severe operating conditions. This research explores the improvement in SAE 5w-30 base oil performance after the addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in six marginal compositions, namely, Base, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10 weight percentage. The effect of the addition of MWCNTs on flash and pour points, thermal conductivity, kinematic viscosity, friction coefficients, and wear are investigated and reported. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy are used to characterize the MWCNTs. The purity, crystallinity, size, shape, and orientation of the MWCNTs are confirmed by XRD and TEM characterization. Pour points and flash points increase by adding MWCNTs but inconsistency is observed after the 0.06 wt.% composition. The thermal conductivity and kinematic viscosity increase significantly and consistently. The friction coefficient and wear scar diameter reduce to 0.06 wt.% MWCNTs and then the trend is reversed due to agglomeration and inhomogeneity. A composition of 0.06 wt.% is identified as the optimum considering all the investigated properties. This composition ensures the stability of the tribo-film and hydrodynamic lubrication.
Highlights
Various lubricants are used to curb friction and wear in the rubbing parts inside countless mechanical systems including internal combustion engines, gears, bearings, turbines, and pumps [1,2]
Ahmadi et al [15] studied the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in different concentrations on the flash point, viscosity, pour point, and thermal conductivity to improve the properties of lubricants
The present study investigates the optimum weight percentage of MWCNTs, which may be utilized as an additive in commercial lubricant oil to improve its performance
Summary
Various lubricants are used to curb friction and wear in the rubbing parts inside countless mechanical systems including internal combustion engines, gears, bearings, turbines, and pumps [1,2]. Ahmadi et al [15] studied the effect of MWCNTs in different concentrations on the flash point, viscosity, pour point, and thermal conductivity to improve the properties of lubricants. The effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the addition of paraffinic oil on the flash point, kinematic viscosity, pour point, tribological properties, and thermal conductivity coefficient of gear oil was studied [18]. The present study investigates the optimum weight percentage (wt.%) of MWCNTs, which may be utilized as an additive in commercial lubricant oil to improve its performance The rheological properties, such as pour and flash points and kinematic viscosity, and the tribological properties, such as the wear and friction coefficients, have been measured to determine the performance of the base oil and after the dispersion of the MWCNT additives
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