Experimental analysis of tribological properties of biolubricant with nanoparticle additive

This study examined the tribological properties of two lubricating oils, paraffin oil and biolubricant added with TiO2 nanoparticles used as additives. Biolubricant used in this experimental was derived from palm oil-based TMP (trimethylolpropane) ester. The TMP ester is produced from palm oil, which is biodegradable and has high lubricity properties such as a higher flash point temperature and VI (viscosity index). The friction and wear experiments were performed using fourball machine tribotester. Experimental was carried out for 10 minutes under 40 kg, 80kg, 120kg, and 160kg at 1200rpm. Test temperatures were set at room temperature. The experimental results show that nanoparticles, TiO2 added to TMP ester exhibit good friction-reduction. The addition of TiO2 nanoparticles in the TMP ester at 160 kg decreased the friction coefficient by 15% respectively, and reduced the wear scar diameter by 11 %respectively, as compared to TMP ester without TiO2 nanoparticles. In conclusion, TMP ester added with nanoparticles is environmentally desired to mineral oil based lubricants, research to investigate the properties of nanoparticle added with TMP ester to make it technologically competitive as automobile lubricant, and should be encouraged. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of The Malaysian Tribology Society (MYTRIBOS), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.