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Friction 2021, 9(6): 1436-1449 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0426-8
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 25 October 2020

Origin of the tribofilm from MoS2 nanoparticle oil additives: Dependence of oil film thickness on particle aggregation in rolling point contact

Show Author's Information Hongxing WU1,  Liping WANG2,  Guangneng DONG3( )
State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center of Advanced Lubrication and Seal Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Petro China Lanzhou Lubricating Oil R & D Institute, Lanzhou 730060, China
Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Modern Design and Rotor-Bearing System, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
Keywords:
nanoparticle lubrication, oil film thickness, flow pattern, particle aggregation
Cite this article:
WU H, WANG L, DONG G. Origin of the tribofilm from MoS2 nanoparticle oil additives: Dependence of oil film thickness on particle aggregation in rolling point contact. Friction, 2021, 9(6): 1436-1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0426-8
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Abstract Full text About this article

The lubrication effectiveness of MoS2 nanoparticles as an oil additive remains unclear, restricting its application in industry to reduce friction. The goal of this work was to explore the lubrication mechanism of MoS2 nanoparticles as an oil additive. In this study, the oil film thickness behaviors of MoS2 nanoparticles in poly-alpha olefin (PAO4) base oil, PAO4 with 3 wt% dispersant (polyisobutyleneamine succinimide, PIBS), and 0W20 engine oil were investigated using an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) testing machine. Following the EHL tests, the flow patterns around the contact area and the tribofilm covering rate on contact area were studied using optical microscopy to understand the lubrication mechanism. The results indicate that both the dispersant and nanoparticle aggregation significantly affected the oil film thickness. The expected oil film thickness increase in the case of 0.1 wt% MoS2 in PAO4 base oil was obtained, with an increase from 30 to 60 nm over 15 min at a velocity of 50 mm/s. Flow pattern analysis revealed the formation of particle aggregation on the rolling path when lubricated with 0.1 wt% MoS2, which is associated with a tribofilm coverage rate of 41.5% on the contact area. However, an oil film thickness increase and particle aggregation were not observed during the tests with 0.1 wt% MoS2 blended with 3 wt% PIBS as the dispersant in PAO4 base oil, and for 0.75 wt% MoS2 in 0W20 engine oil. The results suggest that nanoparticles responsible for tribofilm formation originated from aggregates, but not the well-dispersed nanoparticles in point contact. This understanding should aid the advancement of novel lubricant additive design.


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About this article

Origin of the tribofilm from MoS2 nanoparticle oil additives: Dependence of oil film thickness on particle aggregation in rolling point contact

Show Author's information Hongxing WU1, Liping WANG2, Guangneng DONG3( )
State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center of Advanced Lubrication and Seal Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Petro China Lanzhou Lubricating Oil R & D Institute, Lanzhou 730060, China
Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Modern Design and Rotor-Bearing System, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China

Abstract

The lubrication effectiveness of MoS2 nanoparticles as an oil additive remains unclear, restricting its application in industry to reduce friction. The goal of this work was to explore the lubrication mechanism of MoS2 nanoparticles as an oil additive. In this study, the oil film thickness behaviors of MoS2 nanoparticles in poly-alpha olefin (PAO4) base oil, PAO4 with 3 wt% dispersant (polyisobutyleneamine succinimide, PIBS), and 0W20 engine oil were investigated using an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) testing machine. Following the EHL tests, the flow patterns around the contact area and the tribofilm covering rate on contact area were studied using optical microscopy to understand the lubrication mechanism. The results indicate that both the dispersant and nanoparticle aggregation significantly affected the oil film thickness. The expected oil film thickness increase in the case of 0.1 wt% MoS2 in PAO4 base oil was obtained, with an increase from 30 to 60 nm over 15 min at a velocity of 50 mm/s. Flow pattern analysis revealed the formation of particle aggregation on the rolling path when lubricated with 0.1 wt% MoS2, which is associated with a tribofilm coverage rate of 41.5% on the contact area. However, an oil film thickness increase and particle aggregation were not observed during the tests with 0.1 wt% MoS2 blended with 3 wt% PIBS as the dispersant in PAO4 base oil, and for 0.75 wt% MoS2 in 0W20 engine oil. The results suggest that nanoparticles responsible for tribofilm formation originated from aggregates, but not the well-dispersed nanoparticles in point contact. This understanding should aid the advancement of novel lubricant additive design.

Keywords: nanoparticle lubrication, oil film thickness, flow pattern, particle aggregation

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements
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Publication history

Received: 05 March 2020
Revised: 31 May 2020
Accepted: 03 July 2020
Published: 25 October 2020
Issue date: December 2021

Copyright

© The author(s) 2020

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (31020195C001, 3102019QD0413, 3102019ZD0403). The suggestions from Q. Jane Wang at Northwestern University are appreciated. Hongxing Wu also acknowledges the scholarship support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC, No. 201606280181).

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