Why do hybrid nanoparticles perform better in improving heat transfer performance of lubricating oil during lubrication process: An experiment and molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

Lubricants are indispensable ingredients for alleviating friction and wear in mechanical components especially in automobile. However, due to its poor heat transfer capabilities, traditional lubricants are denatured under extreme working conditions, leading to lubrication failure during the friction process. Therefore, this study elaborately put forward to a novel MoS2/h-BN hybrid nanoparticle as efficient nano-additive for engine oil. The results of experiments and molecular dynamics simulation jointly show that compared with mono nanoparticles, hybrid nano-lubricants (NL) thermal conductivity was significantly improved than that of base oil owing to the synergistic effect. The corresponding mechanism for the improving heat transfer performance was suitably proposed based on the Mean Square Displacement (MSD) and Radial Distribution Function (RDF) results at the microscopic atomic level.