Four-ball Tribometer Research Articles

Tribological properties and synergistic effects of ionic liquids and silver complexes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to solve the abrupt deterioration of lubricant performance in high-temperature conditions.Design/methodology/approachThree silver pyrazolyl methyl pyridine complexes with different morphologies were synthesized. A four-ball tribometer was used to assess the tribological characteristics as an additive for pentaerythritol oleate both independently and compound with 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide.FindingsThe results showed that when silver complexes and ionic liquids (IL) act independently, sheet silver complex 1 and rod silver complex 2 exhibit good lubricating performance; the optimal antifriction concentration of the ILs is 0.25 Wt.%. The tribological results of the compounds additive of ILs and silver complexes indicate that the wear scar diameter of compound 1 decreased by 16.914%, the wear volume reduced by 7.44% and the lubrication effect surpassed that of the two substances individually; rod compound 2 exhibited an antagonistic effect, intensifying wear; compound 3’s lubrication effect fell between that of the two individual components.Originality/valueThe compound of sheet silver complexes and ILs effectively solves the agglomeration problem of micro/nano lubricant additives. When the interface fails, self-repair is completed, improving the stability and antiwear performance of the lubricating oil.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0128

Influence of ionic liquid/liquid metals on the lubrication properties of lithium grease

PurposeThis paper aims to use an ionic liquid (IL, [HMIM]PF6) to improve the lubrication performance of liquid metal (LM) as a lithium grease additive and to expand the application range of LM.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the different mass ratios of [HMIM]PF6/LM mixtures were added into the lithium grease on a four-ball tribo-meter to investigate the effects of its tribological behavior. Scanning electron mircoscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to reveal the anti-wear and friction-reducing mechanism of the additives.FindingsWhen the load was used at 461 N, the average coefficient of friction (ACOF) and average wear scar diameter (AWSD) of steel ball Lubricated with grease with an optimal ratio of 2:3 ([HMIM]PF6/LM) were reduced by 32.8% and 30.5%, respectively. Friction and wear mechanisms are ascribed to friction-induced additive components that can simultaneously form a composite lubrication film consisting of FePO4, FeF3, Ga2O3, In2O3 and SnO2.Research limitations/implicationsCompared with the pure lithium-based grease, when [HMIM]PF6/LM was added with an optimal ratio of 2:3, the ACOF and AWSD were reduced by 12.4% from 0.097 to 0.085 and 23.8% from 552.117 µm to 420.590 µm under 392 N, respectively. When at 461 N, the ACOF and AWSD of steel ball were reduced by 32.8% from 0.122 to 0.082 and 30.5% from 715.714 µm to 497.472 µm, respectively. It was shown that the simultaneous addition of LM and [HMIM]PF6 can form a composite lubrication film consisting of FePO4, FeF3, Ga2O3, In2O3 and SnO2.Originality/valueIn this paper, [HMIM]P F6 is added with LM simultaneously to improve the lubrication properties of lithium grease, and expand the application scope of LM.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2024-0017/

Tribological Behavior of GTL Base Oil Improved by Ni-Fe Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets

The layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been practically applied in the field of tribology and materials science due to its unique physicochemical properties, weak bonding, flexible structural composition, and adjustable interlayer space. In this work, a series of ultrathin and flexible composition of Ni-Fe LDH samples were prepared via a cost-effective room-temperature co-precipitation process. Then, they were mechanically dispersed into GTL base oil and their lubricating performance were tested by a four-ball tribometer. It is found that the variation of Ni-Fe ratio of Ni-Fe LDH has a great influence on the improvement of lubricating performance of GTL base oil. At the same concentration (0.3 mg/mL), the Ni-Fe LDH with Ni/Fe ratio of 6 was demonstrated to exhibit the best lubricating performance and the AFC, WSD, the wear volume, surface roughness and average wear scar depth decreased 51.3%, 30.8%, 78.4%, 6.7% and 50.0%, respectively. SEM-EDS and X-ray photoelectron spectra illustrated that the tribo-chemical film consisting of iron oxides and NiO with better mechanical properties formed and slowly replaced the physical film, which resists scuffing and protect solid surface from severe collisions.

Tribology Evaluation on a Four-Ball Tribometer Lubricated by Al2O3/PAG Nanolubricants

Nanolubricants can improve the tribological properties for application in automotive systems. By reducing the friction rate of the internal components with nanolubricants, the service life of a compressor used in automotive air conditioning (AAC) can be extended. The investigation aims to determine the optimal volume concentration of nanolubricants for achieving the highest performance in tribological properties. Al2O3 nanoparticles dispersed in a polyalkylene glycol (PAG ND12) base at volume concentrations of 0.01%, 0.03%, and 0.05% were investigated to improve the lubrication system in the AAC compressor. The stability investigations were carried out by comparing absorbance conditions using a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer at each volume concentration for 210 days. Koehler's four-ball tribometer was used to measure coefficient of friction (COF) and friction torque at a load of 40.0 kg and a speed of 1200 rpm. The stability study of nanolubricant yielded average absorbance values of 0.752, 0.755, and 0.684, respectively. The average COF values of the nanolubricants of 0.01%, 0.03%, and 0.05% were 0.104, 0.078, and 0.117, while the pure lubricant was 0.095. Further investigation on friction torque resulted in a decrease in the pure lubricant of 0.064%, and for nanolubricant Al2O3/PAG ND12, a decrease of 0.087%, 0.057%, and 0.092%, respectively. The results indicated that a concentration of 0.03% produced the greatest reduction in COF and torque, namely 0.0078% and 0.0578%, correspondingly. Therefore, it is recommended to use Al2O3/PAG ND12 nanolubricant at a volume concentration of 0.03% because it is the most optimal in terms of stability and has the highest COF and frictional torque reduction.

Lubricity performance of hydrogen-free CVD growth of graphene on copper particles as an additive in paraffin base oil

This study aims to examine the impact of carbon precursor materials, which are oil palm fiber (OPF) and waste polystyrene (PS), on friction and wear properties of paraffin base oil added with graphene-coated copper (Cu) additive. The graphene was synthesized on Cu particles via hydrogen-free chemical vapor deposition method. The graphene was characterized using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The lubricity properties of 0.6 wt.% of synthesized graphene-coated Cu additive in paraffin base oil was analyzed based on its tribological behavior using a four-ball tribometer. From the quantitative and qualitative characterization analysis, graphene-coated Cu additive synthesized using 50 wt.% OPF carbon precursors has a good-quality graphene with minimal defects and a well-ordered lattice structure. From the tribological analysis, the paraffin base oil added with graphene-coated Cu additive synthesized using 50 wt.% OPF carbon precursor has the lowest coefficient of friction of 0.07 and wear rate of 1.6 × 10−5 mm3/min. Hence, it can be suggested that incorporating graphene-coated Cu particles, synthesized from a 50 wt.% OPF carbon precursor, into base oil shows great potential as an environmentally friendly additive, particularly in terms of enhancing lubrication performance.

Tribological characteristics and film behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene in jatropha with sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant

In this research, a bio lubricant was developed utilising eco-friendly constituents of jatropha oil, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulphonate (SDBS), characterised and tested with four-ball tribometer under ASTM D2783 standard. The tribological performance in terms of friction, wear, load carrying ability and evaluation of the film behaviour on stability and strength was conducted. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the study, the presence of the two additives in base jatropha oil demonstrated good functional groups desired for lubricant lubricity. In comparison to base jatropha under 40 kg and 1200 rpm, blended 1 wt-% PTFE + 0.8 wt-% SDBS additives produced an outstanding reduction in coefficient of friction (61.4%) and good load carrying strength among all the samples tested, but commercial shell oil (CSO) outperformed under wear resisting potential. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a 3D surface profilometer were used to examine the rubbed surfaces. Findings indicate that the boundary film on the worn surface was made up of PTFE and SDBS nanoparticles that deposited film elements of sulphur and higher carbon content. The decrease in the percentage of iron (Fe) indicates that tribo-pairs were separated from direct contact under additives usage. According to the research, adding an anti-wear substance to the new formulation could increase wear protection, thus effectively making it comparable with CSO counterpart.

A Tribological Analysis of PAO-Based Hybrid SiO2-TiO2 Nanolubricants

Friction and wear are caused by contact between sliding surfaces over time. It is possible to reduce friction in a compressor by improving its lubrication. The nanoparticle lubrication will aid in reducing wear and friction of the piston mechanism of the compressor. This work aims to analyse the tribology properties of performance of the system employing Polyalphaolefin (PAO)-based hybrid nanolubricants. A two-step method was used to disperse SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles in the PAO lubricant at volume concentrations of 0.01% and 0.05% using a two-step method. Then, hybrid nanolubricants are observed visually, and their coefficient of friction (COF) is evaluated using a four-ball tribometer. The SiO2-TiO2/PAO hybrid nanolubricants were found to have a higher than 80% sedimentation ratio up to 180 hours and to be visually stable for up to 30 days. The 0.01% SiO2-TiO2/PAO has a lower COF than the base PAO 68 oil. The 0.05%, however, does not show the expected reduction. The COF ratio for volume concentrations of 0.01% and 0.05% is 0.97 and 1.01, respectively. The highest COF reduction of nanolubricants was attained up to 2.53% at 0.01% volume concentration. Therefore, 0.01% SiO2-TiO2/PAO is the ideal condition for use and is recommended for further investigations.

Influence of MWCNTs, ZnO, and boric acid nanomaterial blend on the tribological and thermal properties of lithium grease

The roller/ball bearing plays a crucial role in the power transmission of high-speed machines used in industrial applications. The inadequate lubricant at the contacting surfaces may cause bearing failure and lead to financial misfortune. Effective lubrication at the contacting surface is the only criteria to obtain significant bearing performance and enhance the life of the bearing. Therefore, in this paper, efforts have been carried out to enhance the tribological and thermo-physical properties of lithium by adding nanomaterials. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), zinc oxide (ZnO), and nanoboric acid (nBA) nanomaterials were used as an additive. The 52100 steel ball specimens were considered in the four-ball tribometer to analyze the friction coefficient, lubricant film strength, wear scar diameter (WSD), wear volume, and frictional power loss parameters. In addition, the thermal conductivity of base grease and nanoparticles added grease was assessed using a KD2 Pro thermal analyzer. The findings of the experimental investigations demonstrated that the enhanced thermo-physical characteristics of lithium grease-containing nanomaterials led to a significant decrease in wear and friction at the contact surfaces of the steel ball specimen. An optimum concentration of 0.75% MWCNTs was observed which resulted in 22.75% and 37.5% reduction in friction coefficient and WSD. Also, the surface roughness and wear volume were reduced 59% and 84.7% with MWCNTs blended grease in comparison with base grease.

The size effect of molybdenum disulphide additives on friction and wear performance of lithium-thickened palm olein grease

Concern over commercial mineral-based grease’s impact on the environment and its unrenewable resources requires a more sustainable alternative in lubrication. In this research, a palm olein-based grease was developed, and the effect of particle size of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) additives on the grease performance was experimentally evaluated. Molybdenum disulphide additive of 0.5 wt.% concentration that varied in size was added to the palm olein grease. The friction reduction and wear characteristics of the developed lubricants were evaluated using a four-ball tribometer. The wear surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and infinite focus microscope. It was discovered that MoS2 improved the grease performance, and a nano size of 90 nm exhibited the best performance in reducing friction coefficient, wear parameters and surface roughness. This study suggests the potential of palm olein-based grease with MoS2 additive to be used as a lubricant.

Thermo-Oxidative Stability and Tribological Properties of Biolubricants Obtained from Castor Oil Fatty Acids and Isoamyl Alcohol

In this study, the thermo-oxidative stability and tribological behavior of bio-based lubricant samples synthesized from castor oil using isoamyl alcohol were evaluated. Initially, the compositional and physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were assessed using the 1H NMR, FTIR and ASTM methods. Oxidative stability of the samples was evaluated using the Rancimat method at 110 °C under air flow. The final biolubricant sample (BL2), obtained after esterification, epoxidation and oxirane rings opening reactions, presented an oxidation stability time (OST) of 14.3 h. The thermal stability was also evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG) from the mass variations under inert and oxidative atmosphere. BL2 showed higher thermal stability compared to the other samples, demonstrating higher decomposition temperatures in both inert (339.04 °C) and oxidative (338.47 °C) atmospheres, for a mass loss of 50%. The tribological properties of the samples were evaluated using a four-ball tribometer configuration. The BL1 and BL2 samples exhibited lower friction coefficients than the mineral oil sample (MOS) by 21.5% and 43.1%, respectively. Regarding wear, the observed wear scar diameter (WSD) was also lower in BL1 and BL2 compared to MOS by 5.2% and 40.4%, respectively. The results of the tribological evaluation suggest that both samples (BL1 and BL2) have promising potential for applications in lubricating machines.

Effects of the Electric Double Layer Characteristic and Electroosmotic Regulation on the Tribological Performance of Water-Based Cutting Fluids.

The electroosmosis effect is a complement to the theory of the traditional capillary penetration of cutting fluid. In this study, based on the electric double layer (EDL) characteristics at friction material/solution interfaces, the influences of additives and their concentrations on capillary electroosmosis were investigated, and a water-based cutting-fluid formulation with consideration to the electroosmosis effect was developed. The lubrication performance levels of cutting fluids were investigated by a four-ball tribometer. The results show that the EDL is compressed with increasing ionic concentration, which suppresses the electroosmotic flow (EOF). The specific adsorption of OH- ions or the dissociation of surface groups is promoted as pH rises, increasing the absolute zeta potential and EOF. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) additive adsorbed to the friction material surface can keep the shear plane away from the solid surface, reducing the absolute zeta potential and EOF. The electroosmotic performance of cutting fluid can be improved by compounding additives with different electroosmotic performance functions. Furthermore, electroosmotic regulators can adjust the zeta potential by the electrostatic adsorption mechanism, affecting the penetration performance of cutting fluid in the capillary zone at the friction interface. The improvement in the tribological performance of cutting fluid developed with consideration given to the electroosmosis effect is attributed to the enhancement of the penetration ability of the cutting fluid and the formation of more abundant amounts of lubricating film at the interface.

A Methodological Approach to Assessing the Tribological Properties of Lubricants Using a Four-Ball Tribometer

Based on the analysis of standards for the testing of lubricants, both liquid and plastic, on a four-ball tribometer, and the analysis of the parameters by which lubricants are evaluated, this paper proposes a methodology and an integral parameter for the estimation of tribological properties. The methodological approach proposed in this paper allows for the integration of a variety of parameters provided in the standards for the testing of lubricants into one indicator. Herein, we show that the developed technique is based on the energy approach and takes into account the specific wear work of the test material (steel balls) in the lubricating medium to be investigated. The results of laboratory tests of a wide range of lubricants are presented: hydraulic fluids, motor and transmission oils of various purposes and classifications. It is shown that the magnitude of the integral parameter can be used to assess the effectiveness of anti-wear and anti-scuff additives in base lubricants, as well as the ranges of their applications. This allows for differentiation and quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of such additives. The obtained results allow us to state that all tests according to the developed method are reproducible and homogeneous, which is confirmed using the Cochran criterion. The coefficient of variation during testing does not exceed 18%. We show that the presented methodology and the integral parameter can be used in the first stage of the laboratory selection tests of new lubricants and additives of various origins, reducing the costs of their development and implementation.

Use of Functionalized Graphene-Based Materials on Grease

The growing awareness of reduced friction losses and new demands for electrical powertrains demand improved lubricants. Due to their unique properties, such as high thermal and electrical conductivity, graphene and its derivatives have been investigated for tribological applications, especially as lubricant additives. In this work, we investigated three commercially available graphene variants, one comprising a few layers and the other two comprising nanoplates, after functionalization as additives to lithium soap grease. The grease temperature dropping point increased by approximately 6 °C. Additionally, during the reciprocating friction test, friction increased with the test duration for the baseline grease, whereas it decreased for the ones containing graphene-based additives. On the test end, friction was reduced by 8% compared to the baseline grease. On a four-ball tribometer, the wear scar was reduced from 10 to 18% compared to the baseline grease. In general, no significant difference was seen between the three graphene-based variants. The promising results found with graphene nanoplates, a less expensive material than a few graphene layers, creates opportunities for a cost-competitive additive to commercial greases.

Lithium-Calcium Greases Having Carbon Nanotubes and Aluminum Oxide Base Nanoadditives: Preparation and Characteristics of Nanogrease.

This research presents the results of the effect of different concentrations (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt %) of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3) on the characteristics of lithium-calcium grease (LCG). The LCG/Al2O3 and LCG/MWCNT were studied and illustrated by measuring the dropping point, consistency, thermal conductivity, and tribological characteristics of nanograins (wear, friction, and welding point) by using a four-ball tribometer. The morphologies of the additives and the nanogrease were examined and evaluated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The worn surface of the ball surface was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Based on the obtained results, the nanoadditive can significantly enhance the grease properties. The grease having a 4 wt % content of Al2O3 and MWCNT presented the lowest wear scar diameter and friction coefficient. Consequently, the welding point, dropping point, and thermal conductivity indicated that adding nanoadditives could strikingly enhance the lubricating effect of grease by 26, 32, and 75%, respectively. Finally, this study provides a lubricant with promising results that can be used under extreme pressure.

Tribological characterisation of graphene hybrid nanolubricants in biofuel engines

The rapid development of nanotechnology allows further enhancement of the tribological performance of lubricants by utilizing nano-additives. This study used a four-ball tribometer to examine the tribological properties of three different oils, namely 15 W-40 mineral oil, 5 W-30 completely synthetic polyalphaolefin with ester oil and pongamia oil with additional graphene nanoplatelets. The experiment model was constructed using a mathematical technique known as Response Surface Methodology (RSM), with the experimental design developed by using Optimal Custom Design. The extent of the influence to which various operating parameters, including load, speed and concentration of nanoparticles, were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. The simulation results are used for optimization purposes to determine the optimum concentration of nanoparticles that provides excellent tribological properties. The surface morphology was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy to explore the mechanisms that improve the tribological performance. The optimum concentration of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) was determined to be 0.126 wt%, 0.15 wt%, and 0.096 wt% for mineral oil, synthetic polyalphaolefin with ester oil and pongamia oil respectively. The optimization of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) concentration on mineral oil (MO), synthetic oil (SO) and Pongamia oil (PO) exhibits 5.78, 15.63 and 6.82% friction reduction respectively and 17.68, 29.46 and 97.32% wear reduction respectively compared to base oils. The dispersion stability results show that GNP is more stable in MO and SO than PO in the absence of surfactant. Finally, the improvement on worn surface was observed with optimization of concentration due to the significant polishing effect of GNP.

Tribological properties and tribomechanism of nickel nanoparticles in-situ synthesized in rapeseed oil

Nickel (Ni) nanoparticles can be enriched on the surface of iron-based frictional pairs, which provides the possibility to get rid of the competitive adsorption between the polar species of vegetable oil and the surface-active nano-additives thereon. In this paper, nickel acetylacetonate was used as a precursor to in-situ synthesize nickel nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 12 nm in rapeseed oil (RO) as the reducing agent, surface modifier, and solvent as well. The tribological properties of the as-synthesized Ni nanoparticles were evaluated with a four-ball tribometer, and their tribomechanism was investigated based on the characterizations of the tribofilm on rubbed steel surfaces by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the Ni nanoparticles in-situ prepared in the RO with a mass fraction of 0.3% can reduce the wear scar diameter (WSD) of the steel ball by 36%. This is because, on the one hand, the Ni nanoparticles are adsorbed on the rubbed steel surfaces to repair or fill up the micro-pits and grooves thereon. On the other hand, Ni nanoparticles participate in tribochemical reactions with atmospheric O and steel substrate to form the tribochemical reaction film on the rubbed steel surfaces with the assistance of friction-induced heat and applied normal load. In addition, an amorphous carbon film is formed on the rubbed surface via the carbonization of base oil under the catalysis of Ni nanoparticles. The adsorbed Ni layer, the tribochemical reaction film, and the carbon layer comprise a composite tribofilm composed of amorphous carbon, polar fatty acid, metallic nickel, iron oxides, and nickel oxides on the rubbed steel surfaces, which contributes to significantly improving the antiwear ability and load-carrying capacity of the RO for the steel–steel sliding pair.

Enhancing Lubrication Performance of Calcium Sulfonate Complex Grease Dispersed with Two-Dimensional MoS2 Nanosheets

Calcium sulfonate complex greases (CSCG) have proven to be a sustainable alternative to lithium complex greases, which still require appropriate additives to deliver lubrication performance benefits under extreme working conditions such as heavy load, high speed, and high temperature. The anti-wear and friction reducing properties of CSCG enhanced by two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets (2D MoS2) with a narrow lateral size and thickness distributions were evaluated by a four-ball tribometer. The results showed that the CSCG with 0.6 wt.% 2D MoS2 performs best, with a 56.4% decrease in average friction coefficient (AFC), 16.5% reduction in wear scar diameter (WSD), 14.3% decrease in surface roughness, and a 59.4% reduction in average wear depth. Combining SEM-EDS images, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectra, it is illustrated that the physical transferred film and tribo-chemical film consisting of MoS2, Fe2O3, FeSO4, CaCO3, CaO, and MoO3 were generated on the worn surface, which improves the lubrication performance of CSCG considerably.

Elucidation of the synergistic mechanism of nano silicon carbide and titanium nitride as highly efficient additives of polyalphaolefin on strengthening the lubrication performance of movable contact interface

This study comprehensively investigated physicochemical and tribological performance of polyalphaolefin (PAO4) oil introducing oleic acid (OA)-functionalized SiC/TiN hybrid nanomaterials. The dispersion stability, wettability, thermal stability, and friction properties of the nanolubricants (NL) system were greatly improved following the application of hybrid NL. Additionally, the anti-wear and reducing-friction behavior were assessed via a four-ball tribometer. The results showed that the COF and WSD values of wear scar lubricated by hybrid NL were greatly reduced by approximately 32.7% and 35.1%, respectively, compared with the base oil. Finally, it is strongly confirmed that the significant improvement of friction performance is mainly due to improved interfacial effect of NL, the stable chemical tribo-film generated onto the friction surface, and the synergistic effect among SiC, TiN nanoparticles, and OA surfactant.

The tribological performance analysis of palm olein-based grease lubricants containing copper nanoparticle additive

Mineral oil-based lubricants have been widely used for their beneficial properties. However, their environmental impact and toxicity have raised concerns, resulting in a search for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives. This study investigates the tribological behavior of palm olein-based grease with copper nanoparticles additive concentrations of 0.25 and 0.50 wt%. The friction and wear tests were conducted using a four-ball tribometer to evaluate the performance of the formulated grease and compare it with commercial mineral grease. The results showed that the palm olein-based grease with a 0.25 wt% copper nanoparticle additive concentration had excellent lubricant performance, with low friction and wear prevention characteristics. This concentration of Cu nanoparticles led to a 35.05% reduction in average friction coefficient (COF), a 32.56% reduction in wear scar diameter (WSD), and a 48.02% reduction in wear volume compared to pure palm olein-based grease.

Optimization and performance characteristics of diesel engine using green fuel blends with nanoparticles additives

The optimized experiment model is often developed to provide fewer costs, time consumed and error for experiment. Nanoparticles can be utilized as fuel additives to improve lubrication performance. Nevertheless, the concentration of nanoparticles is crucial for fuel lubricity. Thiswork describes the use of response surface methodology (RSM) based Box-Behnken design to optimize the tribological behaviour of several types of nanoparticles combined in tyre pyrolysis oil-biodiesel-diesel blended fuel using a four-ball tribometer. The study aims to identify the ideal values for applied load, rotation speed and nanoparticles concentration to enhance the fuel's tribological behaviour. The applied load, rotation speed and nanoparticles concentration range from 20 to 60 kg, 1000 to 1400 RPM and 0–0.2 wt%, respectively are used to determine the coefficient of friction (COF), wear scar diameter (WSD), and surface roughness (Ra). The result revealed that MgO, graphene and Al2O3 nano-fuel shows improvement in the tribological behaviour. MgO nano-fuel model, the optimum speed, load and concentration values were 1000 RPM, 26.99 kg and 0.0531 wt% for graphene nano-fuel model, the optimum speed, load and concentration values were 1161.73 RPM, 21.83 kg and 0.105 wt% and for Al2O3 nano-fuel model, the optimum speed, load and concentration values were 1109.3 RPM, 30.37 kg and 0.0107 wt% respectively. The investigation results demonstrated that the tribological behaviour of the nano fuels made of MgO, graphene and Al2O3 had been improved. In contrast to MgO and graphene nano fuel, the optimized Al2O3 nano fuel demonstrated the best tribological performance with the lowest concentration, price, load and speed.