Effect of polymer additives on the tribological performance of soybean oil

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the behavior of vegetable oil with two additives. Base oil’s tribological qualities can be improved with the help of several additions. In the present investigation, soybean oil is served as the foundational oil due to its eco-friendliness and status as a vegetable oil with two additives, named polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂).

Design/methodology/approach

As additives, PTFE and MoS₂ are used; PTFE is renowned for its anti-friction (AF) properties, while MoS₂ is a solid lubricant with anti-wear (AW) properties. This investigation examines the synergistic impact of AF and AW additions in vegetable oil. The lubricity of the base oil is measured by using a four-ball tester, and the wear properties of the oil at different additive amounts are determined by using a universal tribometer.

Findings

PTFE (at 5 Wt.%) and MoS₂ (at 1 Wt.%) were found to improve the tribological performance of the base oil. The weld load is significantly increased when 5 Wt.% of PTFE + MoS₂ is added to the base oil.

Originality/value

A better tribological characteristic can be achieved by combining additives that amount to less than 1% of the base oil. In experiments with highly concentrated MoS₂, the adequate pressure improved dramatically, but the lubricant’s tribological characteristics did not.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2022-0321/

Citation

Guru, S.R., Venugopal, C. and Sarangi, M. (2023), "Effect of polymer additives on the tribological performance of soybean oil", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 75 No. 5, pp. 607-618. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-11-2022-0321