Wear Behavior of Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron in Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

Biodiesel as an alternative fuel is overcoming to replace petroleum diesel partially. The tribological performance of biodiesel is crucial with respect to application in automobiles. Cast iron is widely used in for manufacturing of many automobile engine parts such as piston, valves, piston rings, etc. This research article evaluates the wear behavior of spheroidal graphite cast iron which is used for the manufacturing of piston rings with respect to different blends of biodiesel. Many experiments were carried out under metal to metal contact and lubricated sliding condition on, pin on disc wear testing machine. This shows the metallographic changes due to wear damage. Previous experimental result shows that friction coefficient and wear loss decreases significantly due to decrease in lubrication percentage of palm biodiesel. The test parameters used under this work were 8 kg, 10 kg, 12 kg, 14 kg and 16 kg loads for 1 h, at speed 300 rpm and at ambient temperature. Wear behavior of spheroidal graphite cast iron is evaluated using five different blends of biodiesel, B0 (100% petroleum diesel), B5 (5% biodiesel), B10 (10% biodiesel), B20 (20% biodiesel), B100 (100% palm biodiesel)).The period for which cast iron can sustain is determined by its wear and abrasion resistance. Due to formation of lubrication layer of ester compounds in palm biodiesel wear resistance of nodular cast iron increases as biodiesel percentage increase in the blend. Therefore, high wear resistance is critical for ensuring a long life of the cast iron in biodiesel environment. The results showed that the B100 has higher coefficient of friction and lowest surface roughness and wear volume loss as compared with petroleum diesel (B0). It also shows that wear and friction decrease as percentage of biodiesel increases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations used to analyze the structure and surface morphology. Wear scar diameter (WSD) was investigated using optical microscopy in tested specimen. The wear rate was found to be more in petroleum diesel compared with palm biodiesel than other blends.