article · Journal of Tribology
Adding aluminium oxide and titanium dioxide hybrid nanoparticles to engine lubricating oil significantly improves friction and wear performance at contact interfaces. Laboratory testing simulating automotive piston ring and cylinder liner conditions across sliding speeds from 0.21 to 1.75 metres per second and loads from 30 to 250 Newtons demonstrates notable mechanical improvements. The hybrid nanolubricant decreases the friction coefficient by 39 to 53 percent and lowers ring wear rates by 25 to 33 percent compared to standard lubricant lacking nanoparticles. Examination of worn surfaces shows that these reductions arise from nanoparticles acting as miniature rolling elements alongside the continuous replenishment of protective surface films. These films develop from a mixture of the hybrid nanoparticles, iron wear particles, and conventional lubricant additives containing phosphorus and sulphur.
Friction and component wear in automotive engines waste energy, reduce fuel economy, and shorten the operating lifespan of critical parts. Demonstrating that hybrid nanoparticles can cut friction by up to half provides an effective method for improving engine durability and operational efficiency, offering potential environmental and economic savings across the transport sector.
This work is relevant to automotive manufacturers and commercial lubricant formulators developing high-performance engine oils to reduce wear and improve fuel economy. The findings represent applied laboratory research conducted on a reciprocating tribometer adhering to standard test procedures, meaning formulation stability, full engine bench trials, and field validation are still required prior to commercial application.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
This study aims to reveal the roles and mechanisms of Al2O3/TiO2 hybrid nanoparticles into the lube oils which could reinforce engine components durability via reducing the friction, wear, or fuel economy in automotive engines. The tribological tests were carried out under different sliding speeds from 0.21 to 1.75 m/s and loads from 30 to 250 N using a reciprocating tribometer to simulate the ring/liner interface in the engine according to ASTM G181. The tribological results using hybrid nanolubricants suggested that the friction coefficient and wear rate of the ring decreased in the ranges 39–53% and 25–33%, respectively, compared to nanoparticles-free lube oil. The combined evidence of the worn surfaces analysis confirmed that the key mechanisms in antifriction and antiwear are a combination of the nanoparticles rolling mechanism and the replenishment mechanism of tribofilms on the sliding contact interfaces. In addition, a tribofilm formed on the rubbing surfaces is not only from the nanoparticles but also from Fe which is formed as a result of iron debris particles and oil additive package such as P and S originating from zinc dialkyldithiophosphate.
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DOI: 10.1115/1.4039720
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