Enhancing lubricant properties by nanoparticle additives

A lubricant is derived from mineral oils or synthetic hydrocarbon blends. However, in order to fulfill the requirements set by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), they lack properties of their own. A common solution to this problem is to include relatively small but effective additives in the formulation of the base stock, which leads to remarkable improvements to the attribute of the lubricants, such as introducing anti-oxidation capability, tribological characteristics, and thermal properties. Nanotechnology offers the opportunity to improve the performance of lubricant oil via the utilization of nano-additives. The addition of nanoparticles to common base oils is a promising approach towards enhancing certain characteristics, such as friction and wear resistance. This communication overview works on nano-additives in the lubricant industry. It encompasses general base fluids and common oil additives, and more narrow focus such as the application of nano-scale particles. Finally, this communication will highlight the future prospects of nanoparticles in the context of the lubricant industry. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.