Title: Influence of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotube additives on tribological behaviour of lubricants

Authors: Rabesh Kumar Singh; Amit Rai Dixit; Anuj Kumar Sharma; Arun Kumar Tiwari; Vimal Mandal; Alokesh Pramanik

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, 826004, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, 826004, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, 226021, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, 826004, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

Abstract: In the present study, the tribological performance of water-based emulsion (lubricant) was investigated by blending carbon fillers such as graphene nanoplatelets and multiwall carbon nanotubes using pin-on-disc tribometer. It was noticed that addition of GnP and MWCNT in water-based emulsion (conventional lubricant) increases the thermal conductivity and viscosity as compared to conventional lubricants. The nanolubricants were supplied with minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technique at a constant flow rate and pressure in the sliding zone. The addition of 0.8 wt.% concentration of GnP showed 58.39% reduction in coefficient of friction and 61.80% reduction in wear depth compared to the conventional lubricant. Similarly, for 0.8 wt.% concentration of MWCNT showed 26.27% reduction in coefficient of friction and 47.35% reduction in wear depth compared to the conventional lubricant. The sliding surface micrographs were also investigated to explain the synergistic effect of nanoparticles.

Keywords: nanolubricants; wear depth; coefficient of friction; graphene; multi-walled carbon nanotube; additives; tribology; surface science; tribometer; mending effect; viscosity; thermal conductivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2018.094773

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2018 Vol.12 No.3, pp.207 - 227

Received: 26 Jan 2018
Accepted: 13 Feb 2018
Published online: 15 Sep 2018 *

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