Preparation and tribological properties of a kind of lubricant containing cerium borate nanoparticles as additives

Abstract

Oil-soluble compounds containing boron as lubricating additives were restricted by the hydrolysis of borate ester. In order to overcome this problem, cerium borate nanoparticles modified with oleic acid (O-CeB) as a potential substitute for conventional lubricant additive were studied in detail. The microstructures of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized. Tribological properties of cerium borate nanoparticles used as additive in base oil were evaluated, and the worn surface of the steel ball was investigated. The results show that O-CeB possesses better anti-wear ability at relatively higher concentration; in particular, it shows better friction-reducing ability under all these studied concentrations. Under higher load, its anti-wear property and friction-reducing property are better than that of Vanlube 289 in the base oil. Based on these results of interferometric surface profilometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, it can be deduced that a continuous resistance film containing depositions and the tribochemical reaction products was formed during the sliding process.