Tribological Assessment of Modified Jatropha Oil with hBN and Graphene Nanoparticles as a New Preference for the Metalworking fluid

Abstract

Recently, manufacturing industries have concerned about the utilization of mineral-based metalworking fluids because of the numerous deleterious impacts on the health of workers and the environment as well as the shortage of mineral resources. Due to this scenario, the vegetable-based oils have emerged the researchers’ attention as a suitable replacement for the mineral based metalworking fluids since it is highly biodegradable, low toxicity and renewable resources. Nevertheless, the main problem of the utilization of the vegetable-based oils is that it shows poorer thermal and oxidative stability. The great development technologies had influenced the application of the nanofluids by adding the nanoparticles additives to the base oil as it gives better physical and properties, thus improved the tribological behavior. This study focuses on developing a new green synthesis and formulation of nanofluids from chemically modified jatropha oil by blending with nanoparticles additives such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and graphene at the minimum concentrations (0.01, 0.025 and 0.05 wt.%). The physical testing such as kinematic viscosity, viscosity index and flash point were conducted and compared with commercial synthetic ester (SE). Then, tribological testing was performed by using four ball tribo test and analyses in terms of coefficient of friction, worn surface analysis and surface roughness. From the results, the sample of MJOs had showed an enhancement by providing higher viscosity index. The results demonstrate that MJOg2 provided the lowest coefficient of friction while MJOh3 and MJOg3 had smoother worn surface as it has lowest value of surface roughness in comparison with others sample. It can be concluded that the MJO samples have high potential substitution to mineral-based oil as a sustainable metalworking fluid in machining processes.