Improving tribological properties of water/glycerol lubricating fluid by the synergy of nanoparticles and protic ionic liquid

Improvement in wettability and lubricity of water/glycerol base fluid by the synergy of nanoparticles (NPs) and protic ionic liquid (PIL) was experimentally investigated. The hybrid additives were made by combining graphene nanoplatelets or silicon oxide nanoparticles with tert-octylamine oleate PIL. A lubricating sample preparation procedure included ultrasonication, centrifugation and magnetic stirring. Kinematic viscosity, pH, and wettability were evaluated. The tribo-tests were performed on a ball-on-plate reciprocating tribometer. It was observed that NPs alone could not improve the lubricity of the base fluid. However, the lubricity was substantially enhanced by using the PIL additive. Furthermore, the combination of NPs and PIL provided an even better tribological response. The hybrid additives improved wettability and facilitated composite tribo-film formation.

Automated summary

The study investigates the improvement in wettability and lubricity of water/glycerol base fluid by using the synergy of nanoparticles and a protic ionic liquid. The results show that the combination of nanoparticles and the ionic liquid additive significantly enhances the lubricity and facilitates the formation of a composite tribo-film.